Lecture 11: Executive Functioning

what is the largest lobe in the human brain

frontal lobe

equipotentiality theory

every area of the brain has the potential to do anything—damage one area, and another area will take over

localization of function theory

different parts of the brain do different things

what did Phineas Gage teach us about equipotentiality vs localization of function and why

supports localization since the part of the brain responsible for well-mannered behavior was lost

three main motor areas in the frontal lobes

premotor area

three main motor areas in the frontal lobes

supplementary motor area

three main motor areas in the frontal lobes

cingulate motor area

what part of the frontal lobes do the motor areas take up

posterior

what part of the frontal lobes does the prefrontal cortex make up

anterior

motor areas vs prefrontal cortex: are motor areas input or output?

output

motor areas vs prefrontal cortex: is prefrontal cortex input or output?

input

three prefrontal cortex circuits

dorsolateral

three prefrontal cortex circuits

orbitofrontal

three prefrontal cortex circuits

medial frontal/anterior cingulate

main structures in frontal cortex circuitry

basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus), thalamus, and frontal lobes

dorsolateral circuit main function

cognition, reasoning, thinking

orbitofrontal circuit main function

social-emotional behavior

anterior cingulate circuit main function

internal drive and motivation

akinetic mutism

decrease in speech, even though the individual is still conscious and alert

abulia

lack of will or initiative

supplementary motor area function

motor planning, not execution

cues in supplementary motor area function

internal cues

cues in premotor area

external cues (ready, set, go)

cingulate motor area function

emotional or motivational incentives to move (when there is a reward involved)

perseveration

inability to stop behaviors once they have started

motor impersistence

inability to continue behaviors once they have started

luria test

3 step motor test: fist, edge, palm

what does luria test measure

motor functioning

go-no go test

one finger/two finger

what does go-no go test measure

inhibition

what does a multiple loops test measure

environmental independence and motor perseveration

multiple loops test

copy the stimulus across the page (looks like a 3 with an extra loop)

apraxia

inability to execute purposeful, complex motor acts, despite physical ability

ideomotor apraxia

inability to use gestures on command

dysarthria

weak or uncoordinated muscles cause difficulty speaking

which prefrontal circuit do most NP tests focus on

dorsolateral

what circuits are tested through stroop interference

dorsolateral (attention) and anterior cingulate (inhibiting automatic responses)

what circuits are tested through Wisconsin card sort

dorsolateral

are executive functions and frontal lobe functions synonymous

no

why are executive functions and frontal lobe functions not synonymous

frontal lobes extent to the basal ganglia and receive input from virtually every part of the brain

executive functions main idea

goal-directed behavior