Week 5 : Executive Functions Flashcards
What are executive functions?
processes like memory that coordinate brain modules to enable behaviour
Why are they needed? (executive functions)
To optimise performance
What does the lateral surface do?
COLD controls
Cognitive processes
What does the orbital/medial surface do?
HOT controls
Emotional processes
What is the role of Anterior Cingulate?
Detection of errors and detection of response conflict
What is the non-unitary model?
A theory of the working memory that assumes division of PFC into at least 2 separate processes
What is maintenance?
Retention of information
What is manipulation?
Updating existing information with new information
What does prefrontal cortex damage do?
Damage to the PFC could result in individuals not being able to do the self pointing task
What is the functional specialisation of the PFC?
Firth 2000 - left side dorsolateral PFC may be responsible for selecting a range of plausible responses
What is right dorsolateral PFC important for?
Monitoring and sustained attention
What are the unitary accounts?
No executive functions, just one underlying function
What is the multiple demand network?
A single set of front-parietal brain regions that is active during all tasks that we consider to involve executive functions
