Tutorial 2 Flashcards
Executive functions are ____ that ____
Executive functions are ___self-regulatory functions ___that ___organise, direct, and manage other cognitive abilities, emotional responses, and behaviour
Executive functions are a _____ of processes that ____
Executive functions are a COMPLEX SET of processes ALLOW a person to plan and carry out goals, adapt to novel situations, and consider consequences of actions.
What is the timing of the development of the frontal lobe?
Around what age?
Frontal lobe is the last lobe to develop at age 25.
Executive functioning is or is not a unitary construct? Why not?
Exec fning is NOT a unitary construct bc rare to find one isolated impairment, usually many related impaired exec fns.
What are the four aspects of exec functioning?
- Inhibition
- Planning and Organisation
- Cognitive Flexibility
- Concept formation, resasoning, problem solving
Explain what the 1st aspect of exec functioning is. What is a related issue?
- Inhibition - The ability to control attention, behaviours, emotions etc. and override our internal predispositions (animalistic traits). Issues in this area can present as impulsivity.
Explain what the 2nd aspect of exec functioning is. What is a related issue?
- Planning and Organisation - The way people go about carrying out tasks to achieve a goal and responding appropriately.
Explain what the 3rd aspect of exec functioning is. What is a related issue?
- Cognitive Flexibility - Ability to change perspectives through either interpersonal or social ways. E.g., being in someone else’s shoes.
– Issues: rigid thinking styles and don’t listen to others’ opinions, won’t try new things.
Explain what the 4th aspect of exec functioning is. What is a related issue?
- Concept formation, reasoning, problem solving -
*concept formation - novel situations for changing circumstances such as evaluating performance and changing the response
*reasoning - think in a reasonable sequential and logical manner
*problem solving - finding solutions to problems.
Most patients who have damage to the frontal lobes experience ______ however, ____. Eg. ___ can also be seen in ____
Most patients who have damage to the frontal lobes experience ‘impairments in exec functioning’, however, ‘impairments in exec functioning are not always specific to the frontal lobes’. Eg. ‘exec dysfn’ can also be seen in patients with injury to subcortical areas of the brain, not just the frontal lobe.
What is the relationship between frontal lobes and executive functioning? What does this mean for testing
The relationship = complicated.
Frontal lobes and exec dysfunction can cause and be caused by other things in the brain.
Implications for testing = very hard to test for executive functioning deficits without testing other things.
What are 3 frontal lobe syndromes?
- Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex,
- Dorsolateral PC,
- Orbitofrontal PC
What are the 3 frontal lobe syndromes involved in?
- Ventromedial PC - diminished motivation
- Dorsolateral PC - typical exec fning
- Orbitofrontal PC - emotional aspects of exec fning
Contrast these frontal lobe syndromes: Ventromedial vs. Orbitofrontal PC.
- what is an overall similarity between them?
Overall similarity: both relate to emotions/feelings
Ventromedial PC - diminished motivation (ie lacking motive/feelings)
- Apathy
* Emotional blunting
* Impaired decision making
* Disengaged and indifferent
* Restricted emotional
responsivity
Orbitofrontal PC - emotional aspects of exec fning (chaotic feelings, adhd)
- Disinhibition
* Impulsivity
* Distractibility
* Emotional liability (rapid,big,uncontrollable changes in mood - irritable, crying, laughing)
* Dysregulated and over
reactivity of emotions
* Poor judgement based on
emotional cues.
What do frontal lobe syndromes ventromedial and dorsolateral PC have in common vs. not?
In common: Apathy
Not in-common:
- Ventromedial PC - motivation
– disengaged, indifferent, cant make decisions
Dorsolateral PC - typical exec fning
- poor organisation, cog flexibility and prob solving
