0010 Executive Function

What is cognitive control, and when is it especially needed?

Control that coordinates processing and action in line with current goals; especially needed when a task is unfamiliar, distracting, or requires changing a response

What four things does executive control need a means to do?

(a) Launch desired actions and override unwanted ones; (b) represent goals and subgoals; (c) assess the situation — what information is arriving, how pieces integrate, conflicts among inputs or between inputs and goals; (d) evaluate how smoothly action is proceeding

How does executive control work (five components)?

Monitor what it should be doing (focus on the lecture); suppress what it shouldn't (drinking a neighbor's coffee); represent goals at multiple levels of abstraction (get caffeine → pick up cup → tense muscle); monitor context (phone rings); update itself consistently (cup too hot)

Which brain region is presented as the monitoring region for cognitive control?

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)

In the Stroop task, what creates interference?

Word–ink mismatch — naming the ink color is slowed when the word spells a different color; ignoring the word to name the ink is the "hard" case

What is switch cost?

Slower responses or more errors on switch trials than on repeat trials

Can advance preparation eliminate switch cost?

It can reduce but not always eliminate the cost

In the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, how is the hidden rule discovered?

Match a test card to one of four reference cards (color, shape, number options); feedback tells whether each choice is correct; the rule is inferred and revised from feedback

What four abilities does the WCST require?

Maintaining a successful rule; detecting when it stops working; considering alternatives; updating the rule

What populations show WCST impairment?

Populations with executive-function disorders

What is perseveration?

Continuing a previous response or strategy after it is no longer appropriate

How does explicit task switching differ from the WCST?

Explicit switching: a cue tells which rule to use — change between known tasks, compare switch vs repeat trials. WCST: feedback helps infer the rule — discover and revise a strategy, examine sorting and perseverative errors

What are the Tower of Hanoi rules?

Move one disk at a time; move only the top disk; never place a larger disk on a smaller one — goal is moving disks from peg A to C

What does the Tower of Hanoi measure?

Task-setting and problem solving — planning requires organizing actions so intermediate steps support a larger goal

Distinguish goal neglect from perseveration.

Goal neglect: a required goal or instruction fails to guide behavior (knowing the instructions but not using them). Perseveration: an earlier strategy continues after becoming inappropriate

What three everyday difficulties follow disrupted executive systems?

Difficulty (a) organizing a sequence of actions, (b) maintaining a goal despite distraction, (c) changing strategy when circumstances change — even with preserved knowledge of individual task steps

Which three brain systems support cognitive control, and what does each contribute?

Lateral prefrontal cortex: maintains goals and task rules, biases relevant processing. Parietal regions: select and represent task-relevant information. Medial frontal regions: monitor performance and adjust control

What is the monitoring account of the anterior cingulate cortex?

Medial frontal systems including the dorsal ACC detect conditions calling for greater control; lateral prefrontal and other systems implement the adjustments