Higher Order Cognition Flashcards
What is higher order cognition?
The executive or control of regulatory process that keep things operating efficiently. Starting and stopping things when needed and step in when things are going wrong.
What are some important regions of the frontal lobe?
Prefrontal cortex
Higher order cognition and executive functioning is stored
Premotor area
Motor area
In front of the central sulcus
What are the the divisions of the prefrontal cortex?
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Orbitofrontal cortex
Mediofrontal cortex
What is important to remember when thinking about the functions of the frontal lobes and their connection with other cortical areas?
The frontal lobes are connected with other cortical and subcortical regions of the brain.
Because the brain is richly connected we must always remember that a function of one part of the brain isn’t always localised to that specific region.
What is something strange about the mediofrontal cortex?
It is very hard to damage in isolation due to its position, if damaged it is likely in conjunction with other parts of the frontal cortex. Meaning, we don’t know exactly what it does in isolation.
What is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) responsible for?
Our true executive functioning
The control process of the brain.
What are some deficits attributed to damage of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?
Working memory is impacted
Planning and task-setting and problem-solving is impacted
Sequencing is impacted
Selective and sustained attention is impacted
Perseveration - “getting stuck”
Inhibition
Cognitive flexibility
What are some neuropsychological measures used to measure DLPFC damage?
The F-A-S test
Participants may repeat items and find it hard to stop habitual responses.
Digit span backwards, backwards 7’s, N-back
Tests working memory
Tower of London
Tests planning and sequencing
Those that do well take their time.
Stroop (inhibition)
Requires us to inhibit the written response seen.
What does the Wisconsin card sorting test, test and how?
Cognitive flexibility
A psychologist routinely changes the rules up to a certain number of cards, someone who has intact flexibility should be able to change preferences without difficulty or perseveration.
What is the Orbitofrontal cortex responsible for?
Its circuitry is involved in the mediation of emotional and social responses.
What are some consequences of orbitofrontal cortex damage?
Emotional liability
Rapid change in emotion, outward display or very significant emotion
Diminished social insight
Socially inappropriate behaviour due to unawareness of environmental social situations.
Lack of sensitivity to future outcomes, both positive and negative
Difficulties in changing reinforcements
Something that was acceptable and rewarded is now unacceptable
Lack of empathy
What happened in the case of Phineas Gage, how did this help understand OFC functioning?
Sever injury to OFC still in full possession of reason, free from pain.
Couldn’t regulate his behaviour and social contexts were gone, he was engaging in socially inappropriate ways
Change in emotion and empathy.
How does the Becharas gambling task help test OFC function?
It’s to manipulate risk and engender emotion in the OFC.
Those with intact OFC exhibit anticipatory anxiety, where as those with damage experience it with emotions of anger and anxiety.
OFC damage inhibits decision making.
What is the Mediofrontal cortex?
It is a part of the prefrontal cortex that detects errors and partially controls motivation or drive of behaviour. It cannot be damaged independently unless there is a tumour.
What does damage to the MFC ellicit?
Apathy
Akinesia
absence of movement
Difficulties with emotions: flat affect
Diminished verbal output
ability to think speak and feel is affected
