Prefrontal Cortex - Lecture Capture[]';

Question 1

Where is the prefrontal cortex located and what major gyri does it include?

Answer 1

Anterior to the motor areas
Includes superior frontal gyri, cingulate gyrus medially and the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri dorsolaterally

Question 2

Where does the prefrontal cortex receive info from?

Answer 2

Visual: about object/form and spatial, motion, depth, also faces
Olfactory
Affective pain and rewards

Question 3

What is sustained attention?

Answer 3

Maintaining focus and effort on one task, it is related to general allerness

Question 4

What regions is sustained attention dependent on?

Answer 4

Prefrontal/orbitofrontal cortex

Question 5

What is selective attention?

Answer 5

Ability to tune out irrelevant stimuli and enhance detection and processing of relevant stimuli

Question 6

What regions is selective attention dependent on?

Answer 6

Prefrontal/orbitofrontal cortex and parietal for spatial info and temporal for object info

Like “where’s waldo?” or listening to one instrument in a song

Question 7

What is attentional set shifting?

Answer 7

Shift in where selective attention is focused

Ex. adult -> child voice at dinner table

Question 8

What regions is attentional set shifting dependent on?

Answer 8

Prefrontal/orbitofrontal cortex

Question 9

What area regulates visual spatial attention?

Answer 9

Superior parietal lobule (regulates activity in primary or 2ndary visual cortex)

Question 10

What area regulates visual object attention?

Answer 10

Temporal visual association cortex (regulates activity in primary or 2ndary visual cortex)

Question 11

General principle/path of selective attention

Answer 11

Sensory association cortex -> primary sensory cortex to filter irrelevant info

Question 12

Finding the X in a sea of + is a quantitative test of

Answer 12

Selective attention

Can also tell subject where it is and measure time difference between two trials

Question 13

Stroop test (colors and names) is a test for

Answer 13

Selective attention and attentional set shifting

Dependent on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (damage impairs ability)

Question 14

Switching from a word name to the color of the word in the stroop test is dependent on

Answer 14

Orbitofrontal cortex

May impair set shifting but pt may be able to maintain focus on initial test

Question 15

What is short-term (working) memory?

Answer 15

Ability to hold information in the mind during use for seconds to minutes

Question 16

What is delay-dependent memory?

Answer 16

Memory in which accuracy decreases as delay length increases

Question 17

What is delay dependent and working memory mediated by?

Answer 17

Prefrontal cortex, mostly dorsolateral
Lateral convexity (S/M/I frontal gyri)

Question 18

Examples of working memory tests?

Answer 18

Delayed non-match (or match) to sample, N-back

Question 19

When are working memory tests important?

Answer 19

As a baseline measurement in contact sports - can be used to determine if a patient has a concussion

Question 20

Locus coeruleus (LC)

Answer 20

Major ascending norepinephrine system, promotes alertness, sustained and selective attention

Lies lateral to 4th V and cerebral aqueduct

Question 21

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

Answer 21

Dopaminergic, promotes selective attention to relevant (especially rewarding) stimuli
Located medial to substantia nigra

Question 22

How to ritalin and adderol work?

Answer 22

Increase action of norepinephrine and dopamine (either increase release or inhibit reuptake)

Question 23

Cholinergic (acetylcholine) neurons function how?

Answer 23

Have widespread projections targeting cerebral cortex and limbic regions, enhance both sustained and selective attention

Question 24

What are the major functions of the orbitofrontal region?

Answer 24

Motivational level exhibited towards tasks, impulse control, social interaction, emotional stability and self-regulation, and prefrontal regulation of fear/stress via interactions with limbic and other regions

Also cognitive function of decision making (rewarding vs. aversive, consequences of decisions)

Question 25

READ OVER CASE OF PHINEAS GAGE

Answer 25

READ OVER CASE OF PHINEAS GAGE

Question 26

Cognitive deficits of clinical prefrontal syndrome

Answer 26

Attention, set-shifting, working memory, executive function

Question 27

Emotional deficits of clinical prefrontal syndrome

Answer 27

Emotional volatility, loss of control, impaired motivation

Question 28

Social deficits of clinical prefrontal syndrome

Answer 28

Impaired attention to and interaction with others, impaired empathy

Question 29

Frontal lobe release phenomenon is described by what deficits/patient presentations?

Answer 29

Disinhibited and inappropriate behavior, inappropriate use of objects (like putting on someone else glasses), infantile reflexes like grasping and suckling, repeating same words or responses, inability to change from one correct answer to another

Question 30

Akinetic mutism

Answer 30

Patient doesn’t respond due to lack of motivation

Question 31

Abulia

Answer 31

Lack of enthusiasm/energy, lack of spontaneous behavior, delayed motor/verbal response
Extreme cases = catatonic state

Question 32

Prefrontal cortex gradually matures until what age?

Answer 32

20s

Question 33

Impaired prefrontal development causes what conditions

Answer 33

Autism and schizophrenia

Question 34

Impaired (but treatable) prefrontal conditions include

Answer 34

Schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, drug addiction