09 Executive Functions

Question 1

Hot vs. cold cognition

Answer 1

• hot cognition: emotional, social cognition
• cold cognition: rational thinking, executive functions

Question 2

stability-plasticity dilemma

Answer 2

• abilitiy to learn new knowledge (plasticity) comes at the expense of ability to remember past knowledge (stability) and vice versa

Question 3

Prefrontal Cortex - definitions

Answer 3

• regions of the frontal lobe that do not elicit movements when stimulated
• projection zone of mediodorsal thalamic nucleus

Question 4

Prefrontal Cortex - size

Answer 4

• relative size of PFC in humans is higher than in mammals below great apes, but matches that of other great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans)
• biggest difference in Brodmann area 10 (anterior PFC), might be responsible for storage of complex action plans

Question 5

Prefrontal cortex - development

Answer 5

• in humans PFC obtains peak cortical thickness later than other (e.g. sensory) regions

Question 6

consequences of PFC lesions

Answer 6

• executive functions: slowing of thoughts and loss of spontaneity, perseveration errors, deficiencies in foresight and planning
• memory: tendency to confabulate
• emotions: loss of self-awareness and flat affect, especially empathy

Question 7

Central Executive Model (Norman & Shallice)

Answer 7

• routine situations: contention scheduling, activate right schemas, autopilot
• non-routine situations: supervisory attentional system, sorting out competition between different goals
• PFC comes into play in non-routine situations, when you don’t have a pre-prepared action plan

Question 8

Bias signals from PFC (Miller & Cohen)

Answer 8

• establishes flexible stimulus-response mapping
• PFC shifts from transmissive to modulatory mode

Question 9

Anterior cingulate cortex

Answer 9

• error/conflict detection
• alarm system: break out of routine