Cognition: Attention, Memory, Executive Functions, and Relation to Language

Vocabulary flashcards covering extralinguistic cognitive domains, memory structures, executive functions, and cognitive impairments in speech-language pathology.

Five Major Cognitive Domains

The core cognitive constructs that process, store, and use incoming information: Memory, Executive Functioning, Attention, Language, and Visual-Spatial Perception.

Four Primary Types of Attention

The distinct dimensions of attention identified in cognitive domains: Sustained (vigilance), Selective (focused), Alternating, and Divided attention.

Long Term Memory Taxonomy

The division of long-term memory into Explicit/Declarative memory (Episodic and Semantic) and Implicit/Non-declarative memory (Procedural and Emotional conditioning).

Internal Memory Strategies

Visual and cognitive techniques designed to facilitate memory encoding and retrieval, including dividing information into chunks, repeating heard information out loud, making associations, and taking written notes.

Attention

The foundation of cognitive domains, characterized as a limited capacity system with limited processing resources.

Working Memory

A limited capacity memory system consisting of a central executive, temporary storage systems (phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad), and an episodic buffer.

Phonological Loop

A component of working memory responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of verbal information.

Visuospatial Sketchpad

A component of working memory responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of nonlinguistic visual and spatial information.

Episodic Memory

A form of explicit, declarative long-term memory focused on recalling specific personal life events.

Semantic Memory

A form of explicit, declarative long-term memory stored as knowledge of words, ideas, and general concepts.

Procedural Memory

A form of implicit, non-declarative long-term memory responsible for motor and cognitive skills.

Executive Functions

High-level, interrelated, supervisory skills for generating, selecting, organizing, and monitoring goal-directed and premeditated responses.

Neglect Syndrome

An attentional impairment that severely affects awareness of spatial locations or stimuli, most commonly observed following right hemisphere brain damage.

Direct Attention Training (DAT)

An attention remediation approach utilizing repetitive drills to target specific attentional components, such as Attention Process Training.

Spaced Retrieval

A memory intervention strategy supporting automatic or implicit recall by prompting the patient to recall target information at progressively increasing time delays.

Errorless Learning

A memory intervention principle that minimizes or prevents errors during the learning process to strengthen implicit memory pathways.

Perseveration

The inappropriate continuation or disinhibited repetition of a previously used response.