unit 6: Neuropsychology of Executive Functions

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the neuropsychology of executive functions as discussed in the lecture.

Executive functions

A set of cognitive functions involved in adapting to novel or complex situations, allowing us to control our behavior to achieve our objectives.

Volition

The ability to formulate goals and initiate intentional behavior.

Purposive action

The capacity to translate intentions into organized, goal-directed actions, including initiating, maintaining, switching, and stopping behavior.

Planning

Identification and organization of the steps and elements needed to carry out an intention or achieve a goal.

Inhibitory Control

The capacity to suppress irrelevant, automatic, or inappropriate responses.

Cognitive flexibility

The ability to shift between tasks, strategies, or mental sets in a flexible manner.

Environmental control of behavior

The ability to regulate one's behavior based on environmental cues and conditions.

Executive dysfunction

Impairment in executive processes affecting goal-directed behavior, self-regulation, and adaptation.

Self-monitoring

The ability to observe and regulate one's behavior and performance during tasks.

Dysexecutive syndrome

A collection of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms resulting from executive function deficits.

Effective Performance

The ability to monitor, self-correct, and regulate behavior during task execution.

Working Memory

The ability to maintain and manipulate information temporarily to guide behavior.

Behavioral Inhibition

Self-control over actions and impulses.

Reasoning

Ability to draw logical conclusions and solve novel problems.

Fluid Intelligence

The capacity to reason and solve new problems independently of prior knowledge.

Attention

Includes focused, sustained, selective, and switching attention necessary for executive functioning.

Processing Speed

The speed at which cognitive operations are carried out.

Metacognition

Awareness and regulation of one’s own cognitive processes.

Frontal Lobe

Brain region whose general function supports executive processes.

Primary Motor Cortex (Area 4)

Responsible for execution of voluntary movements.

Premotor Cortex (Areas 6, 8, 44)

Involved in selection and preparation of movements.

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)

Associated with “cold” executive functions: working memory, planning, abstraction, cognitive flexibility, and complex attention.

Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC)

Associated with “warm” executive functions: inhibition, social behavior, rule adherence, and emotional regulation.

Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC)

Involved in emotional regulation, decision-making, and self-regulation.

Medial Frontal Cortex

Includes regions involved in motivation and behavioral control.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

Involved in motivation, error detection, decision-making, attention, and awareness of limitations.

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Circuit

Network connecting DLPFC with caudate nucleus, globus pallidus/substantia nigra, and thalamus.

Orbitofrontal Circuit

Network supporting inhibition, emotional regulation, and socially appropriate behavior.

Anterior Cingulate Circuit

Network involved in motivation, effort, and initiation of behavior.

Loss of Divergent Thinking

Reduced ability to generate novel ideas or strategies.

Strategy Formation Deficit

Impaired ability to develop effective problem-solving plans.

Loss of Behavioral Spontaneity

Reduced initiation of behavior, low output, perseveration, and rule breaking.

Perseveration

Inappropriate repetition of responses despite changing task demands.

Environmental Dependency

Behavior excessively guided by external stimuli rather than internal goals.

Response Inhibition Deficit

Difficulty suppressing automatic or inappropriate responses.

Risk-Taking Behavior

Engaging in actions without adequate evaluation of consequences.

Gambling Behavior

Impaired decision-making in uncertain or ambiguous situations, often linked to orbitofrontal damage.

Self-Regulation

Ability to regulate emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses.

Emotional Self-Regulation Deficit

Poor control of emotional reactions.

Cognitive Self-Regulation Deficit

Difficulty controlling thoughts and mental strategies.

Behavioral Self-Regulation Deficit

Poor impulse control and inappropriate actions.

Loss of Autonoetic Awareness

Reduced awareness of one’s own actions and experiences.

Temporal Memory (Recency Memory)

Ability to judge the order or recency of previously encountered stimuli.

Frontal Recency Deficit

Impaired judgment of recency despite preserved recognition.

Task Impurity Problem

Most executive tasks measure multiple cognitive processes simultaneously.

Executive Processes vs Frontal Processes

Executive deficits may occur without frontal lesions, and frontal lesions may exist without executive deficits.

Multiple-Measures Approach

Use of several tasks to assess the same executive function.

Working Memory Assessment

Evaluation of temporary storage and manipulation of information.

Inhibition Assessment

Evaluation of response suppression and interference control.

Cognitive Flexibility Assessment

Evaluation of task-switching and mental set shifting.

Planning Assessment

Evaluation of organization and sequencing of actions.

Reasoning Assessment

Evaluation of abstract thinking and problem solving.