Lecture 9- Cognitive Control/Executive Functions

Question 1

What are executive frontal functions?Cicerone et al., 2002

Answer 1

Executive frontal functions are integrative cognitive abilities that determine goal-directed and purposeful behavior, crucial for the orderly execution of daily life functions.

Question 2

What analogies are used to explain executive frontal functions?

Answer 2

Executive frontal functions are compared to an orchestra conductor, who directs the musicians, and a corporate CEO, who oversees the master plan and exhibits social skills.

Question 3

What are some key elements of executive control?

Answer 3

1. Goal-Directed Behaviour
2. Higher-Order Thinking

Question 4

What does Goal-Directed Behaviour include? (6)

Answer 4

• Initiation of behaviour
  -Creation/ maintenance of task set
• sequencing
• strategy adjustment
• self-monitoring
• inhibition

Question 5

What does Higher Order Thinking include? (4)

Answer 5

• Abstract & conceptual thinking
• Decision-making& judgement
• Rules & inference: Logic and predictions.
• Response to novelty & cognitive flexibility

Question 6

What is cognitive control?

Answer 6

Mental abilities that involve planning, controlling, and regulating the flow of information processing.

Question 7

What is goal-orientated behaviour?

Answer 7

Interacting with the world in a purposeful manner. Actions controlled by intentions.

Question 8

Which area of the brain plays a cruical role in cognitive control and goal-oriented behavior?

Answer 8

Prefrontal Cortex

Question 9

What are the 4 Executive Control: Models?

Answer 9

1. Problem-solving and self-regulation (Luria, 1966)
2. Supervisory Attentional System (Norman & Shallice, 1986)
3. Transcending the ‘default mode’ (Mesulam, 2002)
4. Goal Management
   (Duncan, 1986, 1995)

Question 10

What role does executive control play according to Luria (1966)?

Answer 10

Executive control serves as a bridge between intention and action, helping individuals connect what they want to do with what they actually do.

Question 11

What problem do frontal patients face according to Luria (1966)?

Answer 11

Frontal patients demonstrate an inability to match actions with original intentions, often leading to omissions of relevant actions or insertion of irrelevant ones.

Question 12

What is considered central to control processes according to Luria (1966)?

Answer 12

Verbal self-regulation and ‘inner-speech’ are considered central control processes, helping individuals regulate their actions and behavior.

Question 13

According to Norman & Shallice (1986), what is the difference in cognitive control required for behavior in novel versus routine situations?

Answer 13

Behavior in novel and routine situations require different levels of cognitive control.

Question 14

What are the two levels of demand for executive control according to Norman & Shallice (1986)?

Answer 14

Identified two levels of demand for executive control: one for controlling action in simple or well-learned situations, and another for controlling action in novel or complex situations.

Question 15

What is the role of the Supervisory Attention System (SAS) according to Norman & Shallice (1986)?

Answer 15

The Supervisory Attention System (SAS) is essential for controlling behavior in unfamiliar or non-routine situations, helping individuals overcome habitual responding,
environmental dependency, distractibility etc

Question 16

How do humans overcome the default mode according to Mesulam (2002)?

Answer 16

Humans overcome the default mode through cognitive control processes, which act as a buffer between a stimulus and action, allowing individuals to pause and think before responding.

Question 17

What is the default mode described by Mesulam (2002)?

Answer 17

Basic way of reacting seen in animals and humans, where responses are driven by immediate gratification lacking modulation by context or experience, and without differentiation between salience and relevance.

Question 18

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in Duncan’s Goal Management model?

Answer 18

In Duncan’s model, the prefrontal cortex is critical for goal formulation, action selection, and goal monitoring, which are all aspects of managing actions to achieve desired results.

Question 19

What is goal neglect, and what causes it?

Answer 19

Goal neglect is a common outcome of prefrontal cortex injury where task requirements are ignored despite being understood and retained.

Question 20

What are the two main components of the executive frontal functions?

Answer 20

The two main components of the executive frontal functions are motor area and the prefrontal cortex, which receives direct projections from the dorsal medial thalamus.

Question 21

What was the outcome of John Fulton’s experiment on chimpanzees?

Answer 21

John Fulton found that damaging the frontal lobes of chimpanzees changed their behavior from wild and uncontrollable to calm and tamed, suggesting the lobes’ role in behavior regulation.

Question 22

What did Egas Moniz contribute to the field of neurology?

Answer 22

Egas Moniz developed a procedure to sever white matter connections in the frontal lobe of psychiatric patients, leading to reported improvements in their symptoms

Question 23

What is the “ice-pick lobotomy,” and who developed it?

Answer 23

The “ice-pick lobotomy” is a simplified version of the frontal lobotomy developed by Walter Freeman used to sever connections in the prefrontal cortex. It became a widely used procedure for treating mental disorders.

Question 24

What functions are associated with the different areas of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 24

Lateral (dorsal prefrontal cortex)- congitive control
Lateral (ventral prefrontal cortex) - decision making, value and risk assesment
Orbital PFC: Decision-making, emotion regulation, sensory processing.
Ventral Medial PFC: social cognition,emotional regulation, decision making
Medial prefrontal cortex to processes like ‘energization,’ or the initiation and maintenance of goal-directed behavior.

Question 25

How is the prefrontal cortex segregated based on neuroanatomy?

Answer 25

Three main areas
1. Lateral (Dorsal/Ventral),
2. Orbital (ventral medial PFC & OFC)
3. Medial (dorsal medial = ‘energization’).

Question 26

What areas of the brain are associated with Self-Regulation Disorders?

Answer 26

Orbitofrontal (evaluates the value of choices based on reward and punishment) and ventromedial (emotional regulation, decision making, impulse control) regions of the Prefrontal Cortex.

Question 27

Which part of the Prefrontal Cortex is associated with Executive Cognitive Disorders?

Answer 27

Executive Cognitive Disorders are associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal (Cognitive control, working memory, planning) and ventrolateral ( decision-making, emotion regulation,inhibiton)

Question 28

What does the term ‘Energization Disorders’ refer to in the context of Frontal Syndromes?

Answer 28

Involve the medial frontal regions like the superior medial and anterior cingulate, impact the initiation, maintenance, and monitoring of actions.

Question 29

How did Phineas Gage’s case contribute to our understanding of the frontal lobes?

Answer 29

Phineas Gage’s case showed that severe frontal lobe damage could lead to dramatic personality changes while leaving other cognitive functions, like memory and language, intact.

Question 30

What are the main areas of connectivity for the dorsolateral PFC?

Answer 30

The dorsolateral PFC is connected to the posterior parietal and superior temporal sulcus.

Question 31

What are two major symptoms of Orbitofrontal/Ventromedial Damage?

Answer 31

1.Poor separation of salience from relevance, leading to a disconnect between neurologic performance and real-life behavior.
2.Environmental Dependency
Utilization behaviour: where patients feel compelled to use objects that are presented to them

Question 32

Frontal Lobe Syndromes: Orbitofrontal/Ventromedial Damage Symptoms

Answer 32

• Increased risk-taking
• Disturbed social comportment/poor insight
• Self-Regulatory Disorder involves a difficulty in applying past experiences (e.g., episodic or autobiographical memories) to make current or future decisions
• Pseudopsychopathic- mimics psychopathic behaviour

Question 33

Frontal Lobe Syndromes: Dorsal medial PFC (SMA) Symptoms

Answer 33

-Poor initiation of tasks,
- Loss of ‘Energization’ (motivation)
-An absence of volition (purposeful action)

Question 34

Frontal Lobe Syndrome: Anterior Cingulate area.

Answer 34

Poor behavior monitoring

Question 35

Frontal Lobe Syndromes: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Damage

Answer 35

• Cognitive rigidity
• ‘Typical’ Dysexecutive Syndrome, which includes poor abstract reasoning, task impersistence (difficulty focusing on tasks), poor planning, and goal neglect.

Question 36

What are the two main components of Working Memory?

Answer 36

The two main components of Working Memory are online storage (for short-term rehearsal) and manipulation (for executive control of information).

Question 37

What does working memory refer to? (Reuter-Lorenz et al., 2000)

Answer 37

Refers to the capacity to
hold information for short periods of time
and to use or manipulate that information in
thinking and problem-solving tasks

Question 38

What was demonstrated in Fuster’s 1989 study on DLPFC neurons?

Answer 38

Neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) showed continuous activity during a short delay period in a memory task, indicating the DLPFC’s role in working memory.

Question 39

Is there a single region of overlap for the three executive control processes? What is the closest region of convergence?

Answer 39

No, there is no single region of overlap for the three executive control processes but the anterior middle frontal gyrus in executive control is te region of greatest convergence for executive control processes

Question 40

What is Duncan’s definition of executive control? (goal management)

Answer 40

According to Duncan, executive control involves the control of action by its desired result, meaning it is the management of actions based on goals or intentions.

Question 41

What regions does the ventromedial-orbital frontal cortex receive inputs from?(5)

Answer 41

The ventromedial-orbital frontal cortex receives inputs from the temporal lobe, superior temporal sulcus, amygdala, olfactory connections, and connections to the autonomic system

Question 42

Where does the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) receive inputs from?

Answer 42

Inputs from subcortical reward/motivational circuitry, such as the ventral striatum.