week 10: higher order cognition

Question 1

what are executive functions?

Answer 1

• the ability to over-ride autonomic behaviour in order to deal with novel situations
• the ability to switch flexibly between tasks
• the ability to carry out a task while holding in mind other goals
• lack of volition
• difficulties planning
• difficulties with purposive actions

Question 2

what is volition?

Answer 2

goals/intentions
motivation (initiation)
awareness of self and environment

Question 3

what is planning in regards to executive function?

Answer 3

conceptualise change
thinking abstractly 
ability to conceive alternative solutions and make choices
impulse control
sustained attention
memory

Question 4

what are purposive actions for executive function?

Answer 4

initiate
maintain attention
switch and stop sequences of complex behaviour (non-routine)

Question 5

when are executive functions required?

Answer 5

• planning/decision making
• error correction/ troubleshooting required
• non-automatic or novel responses
• dangerous or technically complicated responses needed
• need to overcome habit or temptation

Question 6

what are hot and cold executive functions?

Answer 6

hot: emotion or social situations
cold: non-emotional or social situations

Question 7

regions involved in EF?

Answer 7

frontal lobes

• primary motor cortex
• non-primary motor cortex (premotor cortex and supplementary motor area)
• prefrontal cortex

Question 8

prefrontal cortex subdivisions

Answer 8

1, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
2, orbitofrontal cortex
3, mediofrontal cortex

Question 9

deficits following damage to the dorsolateral prefrontal

Answer 9

• working memory
• planning, task setting, problem-solving
• sequencing
• selective and sustained attention
• perservation (getting stuck)
  inhibition
  cognitive flexibility

Question 10

tests to measure dorsolateral frontal damage

Answer 10

• FAS test (individuals may repeat items or get stuck)
• digit span backwards, backwards 7s
• tower of Hanoi/tower of London
• stroop
• Wisconsin card sort

Question 11

what does the digit span backwards test look for?

Answer 11

working memory in dorsolateral frontal damage

Question 12

what does the tower of hanoi/london test for dorsolateral frontal damage?

Answer 12

task setting, planning, sequencing, problem solving

Question 13

what does the stroop test look for in dorsolateral frontal damage? (red written in green)

Answer 13

inhibition

Question 14

what does the wisconsin card sort look for in dorsolateral frontal damage?

Answer 14

cognitive flexibility

Question 15

what is the orbitofrontal cortex involved in?

Answer 15

the mediation of emotional and social responses. it is responsible for executive processing of emotional stimuli

Question 16

deficits for executive dysfunction in orbitofrontal cortex

Answer 16

• emotional liability
• diminished social insight
• socially inappropriate behaviour, esp conversation skills
• difficulties with changing reinforcements
• lack of sensitivity
• lack of empathy

Question 17

Neuropsychological measures sensitive to orbitofrontal damage

Answer 17

• family/caregiver reports of social behaviour, empathy, aggression
• FAS test (individuals may give socially inappropriate answers)
  Becharas gambling task

Question 18

mediofrontal cortex

Answer 18

• response monitoring (control and monitoring of action)
• error detection
• motivation or drive behaviour

Question 19

mediofrontal cortex deficits

Answer 19

• apathy
• akinesia
• difficulties with emotion: flat effect
• diminished verbal output

Question 20

what is akinesia

Answer 20

absence of movement

Question 21

Neuropsychological measures sensitive to mediofrontal damage

Answer 21

• family/caregiver reports for apathy
• questionnaires, scales measuring motivation
• reaction time (individuals with damage to this region may be slower on speeded tasks)