Executive brain

What is executive control?

Higher-order control processes that coordinate multiple cognitive functions like memory and attention.

What is the ventrolateral PFC, dorsolateral PFC and anterior PFC involved in

ventrolateral PFC = Retrieval & maintenance of visuospatial or semantic information

dorsolateral PFC = Sustained attention; monitoring; selecting/suppressing responses

anterior PFC = Multi-tasking; goal maintenance

What does the orbitofrontal and ventromedial PFC process?

Affective stimuli like rewards, emotions, and social decisions.

What is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)?

Error detection, conflict monitoring, and effort/reward evaluation.

What is the Central Executive Network (CEN)?

A brain network (lateral PFC, dmPFC, PPC, FEF) active during tasks, opposing the default mode network.

Fluid vs crystalized intelligence

using logic, reason, and problem solving in novel situations whereas crystalized intelligence is about previously accumulated knowledge

What is multitasking and how are PFC lesion patients affected

“The strategic direction of attention amongst multiple tasks” (Gutzwiller et al., 2019)

Comprised of dual-tasking, task switching, and task interruption (Cherif et al., 2018)

When presented with multiple tasks to complete simultaneously, PFC lesion patients:

• fail to switch tasks

• plan but never execute tasks

What is perseveration?

Repeating a behavior despite negative feedback; linked to frontal lobe damage.\

Failure to shift and continue with incorrect rule

What is the Go/No-Go task used to measure?

Inhibition — the ability to suppress responses inconsistent with task goals.

What does the Stroop task assess?

Inhibition of automatic responses; linked to anterior cingulate cortex activity.

How is inhibition related to impulsivity?

Poor inhibition is associated with impulsive behaviors, often observed in ADHD.

What brain region is linked to impulsivity and ADHD?

Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

What is sensation seeking associated with neurologically?

Reduced cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex.

How do OFC/vmPFC lesions affect Iowa Gambling Task performance?

Patients fail to learn to avoid risky decks and show no anticipatory skin conductance response.

What is delay discounting?

What is effort discounting?

What brain regions are involved in delay and effort discounting?

Valuing immediate rewards more than delayed ones.

Devaluing rewards that require more effort to obtain.

Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).

What is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex in error monitoring?

Evidence of this and what is error related negativity

Detects errors, evaluates the need for cognitive control, and adjusts behavior accordingly.

Monkeys with ACC lesions make more errors after an error trial — they fail to adjust behavior.

An ERP signal that occurs 50–150 ms after making an error, linked to ACC activity.

Benefits of meditation

Meditation practitioners are more efficient

With meditating less resources to T1 so it can go to T2