Executive function

what is executive function? where does it occur in the brain?

cognitive abilities that underlie performance on all cognitive tasks and develops over age

frontal lobe

how is executive function assessed?

using neuropsychological assessments

Describe The three tasks that can measure executive function?

• wisconsin card sorting task

• marshmellow task

• stroop task

Describe the wisconsin card sorting task

sorting task that requires sorting cards into piles according to a rule that is unspecified, rule is changed intermittently

how many stimulus are involved in the WCST?

4

what does the WCST measure?

ability to shift thinking in response to changing environment and inhibition

what are errors that can result from the WCST?

• frontal lobe dysfunction performance

• case of disconnection between intention and action

what are the age related changes of the WCST?

8 year olds have difficulty shifting to a new rule even when obtaining feedback about the rules

perservation decreases with age

describe the stroop task

a test of mental vitality and flexibility

name the colour rather than the word it reads

what does the stroop task measure?

errors, response tiem and inhibition

what are the age related changes of the stroop task?

children elarn to read at age 6/7, so begin to egt stroop effect, which declines over age

what is the stroop effect?

discordance between two cues, this is difficult in frontal lobe patients

what famous character has inhibition problems?

homer simpson

describe the marshmellow test?

if you dont eat it you can have two later

individual differences in kids

differences in class - middle and lower

how much of the brain does the frontal lobe occupy in an adult?

40%

what is the anterior and posterior part of the frontal lobe called?

anterior - prefrontal cortex

posterior - motor and premotor area

what does the premotor area contain? and the motor area?

modifies movement

contains the nerve cells which produce movement

describe the development of the frontal lobe

• its slow

• PFC and FC are the last areas to mature, first to deteroiate

• spurt between birth and 2 years

• smaller spurt 4-7 years

• slow growth until adulthood

• not fully mature until 14- 20/25

Executive function development is related to childrens what?

• theory of mind

• ADHD

• good/naughty behaviour

• general achievement

• obesity

• antisocial behaviour

• math ability

• lack of coordination

• lamguage ability

• communication deficits in autism

damage to frontal lobes can lead to 4 things, what are they? damage to which one of these is msot noticeable?

1. cognitive inflexibility

2. self regulation

3. working memory

4. social inappropriateness ***

describe what cognitive inflexibility is?

impairment in reactive flexibility and spontaneous flexibility

describe what self regulation is?

poor monitoring of self and incoming info, little use of strategies, goal setting and planning

describe what working memory is?

full impact may take years to reveal

describe what social inappropriateness is

develop impulsiveness and lack of inhibition

dont consider social correctness or future consequences

less likely to commit crime - cant plan

what are the two examples of social inappropriateness and where did they have damage to their frontal lobe?

phineas gage - L+ R frontal lobes

JP - cist developed in prefrontal region but spared brocas area and motor cortex