Executive Function

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Last updated 1:55 AM on 5/4/26
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17 Terms

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Executive function

The cognitive control of behavior, thoughts, and emotions

  • goal-directed

  • conscious and effortful

  • state fluctuations

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3 categories of EF

  1. Working memory

  2. Inhibitory control

  3. Cognitive flexibility

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Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

  • Highly connected

  • Coordinates activity in different brain areas

  • Higher-order/complex cognition

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Working memory

holding AND manipulating information in mind

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Inhibitory control

  • suppress attention (or a response) to something

  • suppress a behavior

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Cognitive flexibility

  • switch from one response to another

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Measuring working memory: adults

Backward digit span

  • participants repeat numbers in reverse order

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Measuring working memory: children

Visual counting span

(Present children with a series of cards, one

at a time

 Ask them to count all frogs on each card + after a set number of cards, ask children

how many frogs were on each card

 2-, 3-, and 4-card trials)

<p>Visual counting span</p><p>(Present children with a series of cards, one</p><p>at a time</p><p> Ask them to count all frogs on each card + after a set number of cards, ask children</p><p>how many frogs were on each card</p><p> 2-, 3-, and 4-card trials)</p>
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Measuring inhibitory control: adults

Stroop tasks

  • congruent trials

  • name the color of the ink!

  • RT for congruent vs. incongruent

<p>Stroop tasks</p><ul><li><p>congruent trials</p></li><li><p>name the color of the ink!</p></li><li><p>RT for congruent vs. incongruent</p></li></ul><p></p>
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Measuring inhibitory control: children (images)

Stroop tasks but adjusted with smilely faces and night and day images

<p>Stroop tasks but adjusted with smilely faces and night and day images</p>
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Measuring inhibitory control: children (marshmallow)

Delay of gratification - marshmallow tast

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Measuring cognitive flexibility: adults

add subtract 3 to #s

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Plus-minus task

 3 lists of 30 2-digit numbers (add, subtract, alternate)

 Average time to complete lists 1 and 2 < time to complete list 3

 Shift cost = difference between time to complete first 2 lists compared to third

list

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Measuring cognitive flexibility: children

Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS)

 Pre-switch: sort by color for 6 trials

Post-switch: sort by shape for 6

trials

 Who passes post-switch?

 3-year-olds = 30-40%

 4-year-olds = 50-60%

 5-year-olds = 90%

<p>Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS)</p><p> Pre-switch: sort by color for 6 trials</p><p>Post-switch: sort by shape for 6</p><p>trials</p><p> Who passes post-switch?</p><p> 3-year-olds = 30-40%</p><p> 4-year-olds = 50-60%</p><p> 5-year-olds = 90%</p><p></p>
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PFC development

 One of the last brain structures

to develop

 Adolescence

 Risky behavior

 Imbalance between “mature”

emotion areas and

“immature” PFC

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EF allows us to…

 Maintain attention

 Ignore/resist distractions

 Keep goals and goal-relevant information in mind

 Tolerate frustration, regulate emotions

 Reflect on experiences

 Make plans

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Individual differences in EF are related to:

Social abilities (peer cooperation, social understanding)

 Aggression (social problem solving)

 Adjustment to kindergarten

 Reading and math

 Planning and complex problem solving (fluid intelligence)

 Academic “soft skills” (organization, engagement, prioritizing, staying “on task”)

 Risky behaviors in adolescence

 Physical health, income level, and substance-use problems in adulthood