The Prefrontal Cortex

Question 1

3 main divisions of the frontal lobe?

Answer 1

(1) Motor cortex
(2) Secondary motor zones
(3) PFC

Question 2

2 main divisions of the PFC?

Answer 2

Dorsolateral PFC

Orbitofrontal / ventromedial PFC

Question 3

What subcortical structures project to the PFC and in what way?

Answer 3

BG, CB and various brainstem nuclei project to the PFC indirectly via the thalamus.

Question 4

Which ares make reciprocal connections to the PFC?

Answer 4

Temporal and parietal cortex.

Question 5

Where else does the PFC project to?

Answer 5

Motor, premotor areas and contralateral hemisphere.

Question 6

Describe the effects of Phineas Gage’s damage to his PFC.

Answer 6

No sensory, motor, speech or cognitive impairments.

Radial shift in personality, difficulties with following coherent plan of action.

Question 7

What kind of test is administered to those experiencing difficulties with planning and organising behaviours?

Answer 7

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Task

Question 8

Describe the the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task.

Answer 8

Task involves sorting 128 cards into 4 categories.
Ppt sorts cards into categories and are told by expt whether their sorting was correct ie. followed the rule.
Categories are changed by expt without ppts knowledge so ppts must adapt their sorting technique until they work out the new rule.

Question 9

Studies referring to Wisconsin Card Sorting Task?

Answer 9

Milner (1963)

Shallice and Burgess (1991)

Question 10

What types of (human) patients show deficits in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task?

Answer 10

Patients with lateral prefrontal lesions.

Question 11

What types of deficits do (human) patients show in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task?

Answer 11

Show lack of inhibitory control.

Continue to sort based on the previous rule regardless of feedback informing them that this was no longer appropriate.

Question 12

What type of macaque lesions impair behavioural performance in modified versions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (and why)?

Answer 12

Bilateral lesions of the dorsolateral PFC (due to inability to switch to new sorting rule).

Question 13

What type of marmoset lesions impair behavioural performance in modified versions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (and why)?

Answer 13

Bilateral lesions of the lateral PFC (due to inability to switch to new sorting rule).

Question 14

What behavioural difficulties result from dlPFC lesions in macaques?

Answer 14

Causes difficult with using recent info to alter behaviour (ie. working memory).