Neuropsychology Of Executive Function

Question 1

What is executive function?

Answer 1

The controlling mechanisms of the brain

Planning
Initiation
Organisation
Inhibition
Problem solving
Self monitoring
Error correction

Question 2

Mmm what is the supervisory attentional system model?

Answer 2

Supervisory attentional system overrides habitual control to direct behaviour towards a goal

Question 3

What are the components t processes of the supervisory attentional system?

Answer 3

Executive control
Contention scheduling (goal directed behaviour)
Monitoring of behaviour
Retrieval from memory
Establishment of future intentions (planning, prospective memory)

Question 4

Where are the circuits associated with task setting and monitoring?

Answer 4

Left lateral pfc - task setting
Right lateral pfc - monitoring

Question 5

Why might a test of executive function be failed by someone without frontal lobe damage?

Answer 5

May be due to dysfunction elsewhere
e.g.Cerebellar damage

Or dysfunction in connectivity due to damage on white matter tracts:
MS
HIV

Question 6

What does the Wisconsin card sorting task test?

Answer 6

Conceptual flexibility

Question 7

What does the Wisconsin card sorting task test?