Working Memory and Cognitive Control

Flashcards related to Working Memory and Cognitive Control.

Cognitive Control

Executive control or executive function.

Research evidence for cognitive control

Controlled updating of short-term memory buffers, setting goals and planning, task switching, stimulus attention and response inhibition.

2-back test

A task that examines controlled updating of working memory.

Self-ordered memory task

Participants must choose a different item on subsequent trials without repeating previous choice.

Stroop task

A task to test for attention to stimulus and inhibit automatic behavior.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

The frontmost part of the frontal-lobe cortex is important to working memory and executive control.

Characteristic of frontal-lobe damage

Loss of ability to plan and organize.

Dysexecutive syndrome

Illustrates the effects of frontal-lobe damage, such as impulsivity and inability to organize.

Damage to the frontal lobes

Leads to deficits in many WM and cognitive control tasks.

Ventrolateral PFC

Involved in storage, maintenance, and rehearsal.

Dorsolateral PFC

Associated with manipulation and central executive functions.

Self-ordered tasks

Right DLPFC significantly active, especially for abstract designs.

Self-ordered tasks

Left DLPFC activated when items verbal material.

Schizophrenia

WM and cognitive control especially affected.

Schizophrenia and Prefrontal Cortex

Tasks involving DLPFC impaired.

Weinberger et al. (1986) findings

No increased blood flow in DLPFC for SZ patients in comparison to healthy controls.