executive functions Flashcards
aspects of core executive functions (3)
- inhibition - behavioral and cognitive
- working memory
- cognitive flexibility
what do executive functions depend on (4)
- sensory input
- remembered information
- goals
- predictions
what do executive functions make possible (5)
- mentally playing with ideas
- thinking before acting
- meeting new, unanticipated challenges
- resisting temptations
- staying focused
what can executive functions be impaired by (4)
- stress
- lack of sleep
- loneliness
- lack of exercise
how can executive functions be studied (5)
- structural neuroimaging
- functional neuroimaging (with neuropsychological tests)
- animal studies (electrodes in brain)
- computational neuroscience (algorithms)
- lesion studies/clinical syndromes (phineas gage)
what is the role of executive functions system
control system that adapts cognitive functions to current environment and state of organism
what are some ex of executive functions (4)
- stm
- reward evaluation
- conflict resolution
- response inhibition
brain areas involved in executive functions: lateral view (2)
- dorsolateral pfc
- ventrolateral pfc
brain areas involved in executive functions: medial view (5)
- ventromedial pfc
- ofc
- dorsal acc
- posterior cc
- dorsomedial pfc
brain area involved in executive functions not seen in lateral or medial view
insula
lateral pfc important for
integrating sensory input and motor output
ventromedial pfc and ofc important for (not role)
memory and emotion
roles of (a) dlPFC (b) ofc & vmPFC (c) acc (d) insula (e) vlPFC (f) pcc
(a) flexible behavior
(b) estimate reward value
(c) encodes negative consequences or signal of mismatch -> learn from consequences of our actions
(d) interoception
(e) behavioral inhibition
(f) self awareness and exploratory behavior
dlpfc connected to which other cortical areas and for what (3)
- ofc & acc -> reward related
- premotor cortex -> planning related
- parietal areas -> attention related
how does dlpfc control flexible behavior (3)
- regulates other circuits actively
- controls responses of other groups of neurons (more or less responsive to inputs and feedback)
- produces different responses in different contexts
ex of flexible behavior that dlpfc controls (4)
- switching attention
- working memory
- maintaining abstract rules
- inhibiting inappropriate responses
what does flexible behavior allow us to do
override habits and find new solutions in non-predictable circumstances
definition of wm and activity in dlpfc
ability do keep information in mind to guide behavior (immediately) -> firing rate of dlpfc increases while information is maintained in stm
effect of lesion in dlpfc (3)
- impairments in stm capacity and duration
- can learn rule, but no change in behavior (if rule is changed)
- no adaptation to changing circumstances -> stuck in behavioral routine
activity of dlpfc when rules change
systematic patterns of activity that accord with specific rules; changes in rules change firing rates of neurons (according to feedback)
how do ofc and vmpfc estimate value
maintain values of >2 options in stm to compare their values
effect of lesion in vmpfc
disruption of value comparisons bw objects