Lesson 9 -Executive function Flashcards
What are executive functions?
The basic cognitive processes that underpin complex, goal-oriented behaviour
seen in prefrontal cortex
When are executive functions used?
When learning a new skill or carrying out a complex task eg doing something difficult or dangerous
What do EFS complement?
Our automatic cognitive processes
They are our domain general processes - can be used in lots of different contexts, contrasting with domain-specific processes which are only useful in specific contexts
What are the basic executive functions?
Working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility
What does working memory help us to store?
Information temporarily
manipulate info
maintain and update task goals
remember what order we should do tasks in
What is inhibitory control?
(executive function)
stops an ongoing or habitual response
suppresses distractions so that goal appropriate behaviour can be produced
Often required when trying to overcome habits we are trying to change
What is cognitive flexibility?
Ability to change and update goal - oriented behaviour in response to changes in our goals or in the env
When did the notion of EFs arise
As a way of characterising the performance deficits we see in patients with brain damage
linked to deficits arising from damage to the frontal lobes
What is the Stroop Effect?
naming colours - slower process than reading
use inhibitory control to name the correct colour
What can develop due to impairments in Executive functions?
Depression; bipolar disorder; schizophrenia; SUD; frontal lobe injury
Which disorders can have poor executive function?
ADHD; Autism spectrum conditions; fragile X syndrome
What part of the skills children need are executive function a part of?
Self regulation (control behaviour so they can achieve difficult / complex tasks)
What are the parts of working memory?
Storage and Manipulation
can be assessed in children as young as 2 yrs
Allows us to keep on task and to perform well on it. allows for control and coordination of complex, goal oriented behaviour
What is storage?
repeat back the following letters ….
storing and retrieving info
What is manipulation?
Repeat back the following letters in reverse order
storing and changing retrieved info
How can you test Working memory in 2 year olds?
Spin the Pots
6 STICKERS HIDDEN IN POTS, 2 POTS ARE EMPTY
pots are spun around and child looks for sticker, then tray is covered and spun around again
continues until child finds the stickers
How to test working memory in 4 year olds?
Verbal Working Memory: Backword word span
Children are shown pictures one at a time of unrelated objects (every day ones) and they have to repeat them backwards order
How can you test working memory in 8 year olds?
updating:2-back task 6 4 9 6 2
What happens with children w poor working memory in tasks?
struggle w tasks
When WM gets overloaded info needed to guide the activity gets lost and Children abandon or guess the task
On developmental stroop tasks what are children told?
How to respond
tasks have multiple trials, and follow a specific rule structure
IF YOU SEE A THEN SAY B
IF YOU SEE B THEN SAY A
child has to remember 2 rules and inhibit the tendency to make the response that matches the stimuli
so inhibitory control is needed
What can poor inhibitory control make it hard for children to do?
Think before they act - sometimes theyll go w the first impulse that comes to mind
may not show what we are really capable of
What is Cognitive Flexibility and how do you measure it?
Measure CF thru DCCS tasks (Dimension Change Card Sort Task)
What is the DCCS task?
Dimension Change Card Sort Task
children see 2 targets and must match the other cards to them
first by one dimension, then the other
when asked to switch rules, they fail and keep sorting by the old rule - they perseverate (prolong an action) which is A CLASSIC BREAKDOWN OF COGNITIVE CONTROL
What is the breakdown of cognitive control seen in the DCCS task?
Dissociation between the child’s knowledge and their behaviour
The child can report what they should be using but cant do it
this happens w child w POOR working memory child w better working memory can use rules correctly
What is the shape school task?
Characters who are ready to play outside look happy; those who aren’t ready yet look sad
*Characters wearing hats are named after their shape; characters without hats are named after their colour
*Children are asked simply to name the characters that are ready to play outside
Following a rule , switching rules, inhibiting a response, ignoring distractors , using rules hierarchically
Why are EFs are vital for regulating behaviour in the classroom…
for maintaining and directing focus…
*…and for interacting with teachers and peers
Simultaneously using EFs in different ways can introduce additional difficulties…
due to the need to coordinate functions and to prioritise different goals
Working memoryandinhibitory control are associated with better maths performance in children what age?
6-8
What 3 reasoning kinds do executive functions also play an important part in?
Counterfactual reasoning
Mental-state reasoning
Symbolic reasoning
