simple decisions, thoughts and metacognition

Question 1

Reaction time in MDD

Answer 1

Patients with major depressive disorder tend to have a slower reaction time

Question 2

Slower RT - Biological perspective

Answer 2

Cascade of processes each time we process something
Lots of parallel elements in brain happening

Question 3

Slower RT - Metacognitive perspective

Answer 3

There can be many things going on i someone’s mind when they try to approach a task, leading to slower reaction times

Question 4

Why does RT increase with MDD

Answer 4

Can be caused by distraction from intrusive task-unrelated thoughts
Hard to truly measure what’s on an individual’s mind

Question 5

How to measure whats on patient with MDD mind

Answer 5

Thought probes in boring study designed to measure objective performance
Mood induction doesn’t have an effect on individuals with non depressive tendencies

Question 6

Brain dynamics

Answer 6

Different brain networks are active at different times
We can measure these states with MRI

Question 7

Central executive network

Answer 7

Active when doing calculations
Active when doing rational choices

Question 8

Default mode network

Answer 8

Active when resting
Role is to think about internally driven thoughts

Question 9

Salient network

Answer 9

Activates like a switch
Activates to salient stimuli (like people)

Question 10

Depression and brain dynamics

Answer 10

In depression, brain reacts less to salient stimuli and will default more to default mode network
Brain will deplete resources that central executive network will need to function and do essential tasks, reducing performance

Question 11

Meta awareness task (mindfulness)

Answer 11

Depressed people made more mistakes
Higher mindfulness associated with lower tendencies of depression
Doesn’t mean mindful people are less depressed, may be that depressed people struggle to be mindful

Question 12

Two types of mind wandering

Answer 12

Spontaneous
Deliberate

Question 13

ADHD and mind wandering

Answer 13

Students diagnosed with ADHD engage in spontaneous mind wandering

Question 14

ADHD and metacognitiion

Answer 14

People with ADHD are slower and more variable over time
People with ADHD tendencies (not diagnosed) have similar pattern just less pronounced

Question 15

Thoughts and test performance

Answer 15

People relate not being on task to thinking of different things
Performance is poor on tasks when individuals are tuned out

Question 16

ADHD and performance variability

Answer 16

Three stages, detection, decision and execution
Differences between patients and control in reaction time can differ in any of the stages or a combination of them

Question 17

Drift diffusion model of performance variability

Answer 17

Accumulate evidence for a decision over time
Collect evidence until decision is reached
Determines the choice and its reaction time on each trial

Question 18

Boundary separation model of performance variability

Answer 18

If difference between boundaries is large it will take longer to commit to a decision
If difference between boundaries is small it will take shorter to commit to a decision
Can be a trade off between accuracy and speed

Question 19

Drift rate model of performance variability

Answer 19

How quickly the evidence accumulates
If the evidence is of good quality then it will take less time to reach the boundary
If the brain is not as fast at accumulating the information then it will take longer to reach the boundary

Question 20

Decision modelling and ADHD

Answer 20

Reduced processing efficiency
Less cautious boundary separation
Faster sensory and motor processes

Question 21

How do parameters differ in ADHD individuals and non ADHD individuals (Karalunas)

Answer 21

Slower drift rate in ADHD (Reduced efficiency)
Narrower boundary separation in ADHD (Impulsivity)
Faster non decision time in ADHD

Question 22

Affect of alcohol on decision making

Answer 22

Decreases drift rate
Alcohol decreases processing efficiency