Lecture 10 (Ch. 12 - Executive Function)

Question 1

What are executive functions?

Answer 1

higher order, top down, social decisions, purposeful actions, active

Question 2

Three basic control functions

Answer 2

1 - Inhibition (Supervisory attentional control: Selectivity)
2 - Updating/monitoring (working memory)
3 - Set shifting (cognitive flexibility)

Question 3

Examples of everyday executive functioning

Answer 3

Problem solving, planning and organization, judgement and reasoning, decision making

Question 4

What is a problem?

Answer 4

Obstacle between present state and goal

Solution is not immediately obvious/challenging

Question 5

How to understand a problem

Answer 5

Create a problem space - Initial state, intermediate state, goal state
Represent problem in mind (matrices, diagrams)
If we need to restructure then change representation in mind

Question 6

Problem solving strategies

Answer 6

Algorithms (exhaustive research)

Analogies - transfer: solution from similar problem (source) guides solution (target) of new problem.

Question 7

Surface features

Answer 7

specific elements

Question 8

Structure features

Answer 8

underlying principles

Sometimes surface features get in the way!

Question 9

Means - ends analysis

Answer 9

Use of sub-problems –> decrease distance between initial state and goal state

Question 10

Factors that influence problem solving

Answer 10

Expertise, Mental set, functional fixedness

Question 11

How Experts Solve Problems

Answer 11

Solve problems in their field
Faster & Higher success rate
Why?
More knowledge
Better memory/organization (represent/restructure)
Use of structural approaches
Experts also spend more time analyzing problem
BUT: no better when outside their field
Sometimes – less open to new ways (fixed mental set)

Question 12

Mental Set

Answer 12

Overly rigid (fixed) nothing about approach (schema)
Based on past experience (with similar problems)
Can be manipulated - Classic ex: water-jug problem

Question 13

Functional fixedness

Answer 13

Object had familiar functions

link with concreteness in semantic knowledge (ex: Candle problem, two strings)

Question 14

Non-insight problems

Answer 14

requires systematic, gradual, rigorous solution (ex: algebra)

Question 15

Insight problems

Answer 15

Aha moment

often requires restructuring

Question 16

Nature of Creativity

Answer 16

innovative thinking, novel ideas, new connections b/w existing ideas
Divergent thinking
A definition : Anything made by people that is in some way novel and has potential value or utility

Question 17

Increased creativity linked to

Answer 17

Intrinsic motivation
Self-efficacy
Reduced latent inhibition (links b/w things most people don’t)
But not
•Perseverance
•Mental illness (but members of family were)

Question 18

Executive f(x) and the brain

Answer 18

frontal lobes - prefrontal region

Question 19

Cold Executive F(x)

Answer 19

Well defined, structured
planning/organization
problem solving

Question 20

Hot Executive F(x)

Answer 20

ill-defined, not well structured
judgement and reasoning
decision making

Question 21

Dorsolateral Syndrome

Answer 21

COLD

• Decreased WM
• Problems with problem solving
• Poor shifting (flexibility)

Question 22

Orbitofrontal Syndrome

Answer 22

HOT

• decreased judgement (social)
• Poor decision making
• decreased self-awareness

Question 23

Dorsolateral Pre-Frontal (Cold)

Answer 23

Types of executive Dysfunction

• Problems with inhibition
• Decreased working memory
• Decreased flexibility (shifting)
• Problems with problem solving
• Poor conceptual reasoning

oHow does this show itself during testing?

• Perseverative responses: Abnormal repetition of specific behaviours (trails B)
• Stimulus-Boundedness
• Poor planning/Disorganization
• Problems integrating feedback

oHow does this present in everyday life?

• May not be immediately evident
• Easily distracted
• Problems with planning/organization (Ex: tangential speech, missed appointments)
• Poor prospective memory (appointments, medications)
• Problems with novel, ambiguous situations