Anatomy & Functions of the Prefrontal Cortex

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Questions and Answers

What tool was Gage using when the accident occurred?

  • A tamping iron (correct)
  • A drill
  • A pickaxe
  • A shovel

What happened to Gage immediately after the explosion?

  • He walked over to an ox-cart (correct)
  • He lost consciousness
  • He called for help
  • He fell to the ground

How long did Gage wait for the doctor after the accident?

  • 1 hour
  • 10 minutes
  • 30 minutes (correct)
  • 20 minutes

What was Gage's reaction when the doctor arrived?

<p>He greeted the doctor with a remark about his injury (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What position did Gage hold before the accident?

<p>A foreman (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What change in Gage's employability occurred after the injury?

<p>He was considered unemployable (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How was Gage described by others after his injury?

<p>No longer Gage (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What physical evidence indicated the severity of Gage's injury?

<p>The tamping iron landing behind him (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of processes are influenced by environmental factors when making decisions?

<p>Bottom-up processes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors affects whether a person will eat a cream cake?

<p>Their level of hunger (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what fraction of the cortical volume in humans is occupied by the frontal cortex?

<p>One-third (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How will the chapter mentioned in the content approach the discussion of the prefrontal cortex?

<p>From the perspective of performing complex tasks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the evolution of the frontal cortex as illustrated in the provided figure?

<p>It has undergone significant enlargement. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the interaction of influences in decision-making?

<p>They arise from both environmental and internal motivational factors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the prefrontal cortex has NOT been discussed in previous chapters mentioned?

<p>Decision-making (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following could be considered a top-down process in decision-making?

<p>Feeling stressed about food intake (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What best defines executive functions of the brain?

<p>The complex processes optimizing performance in cognitive tasks. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which metaphor is used to describe the role of executive functions in the brain?

<p>The brain’s conductor. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way are executive functions characterized in the context of cognitive processes?

<p>They play a meta-cognitive, supervisory role. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the brain does the anterior cingulate specifically regulate within executive functions?

<p>Control and regulation of cognitive tasks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of executive functions concerning cognitive tasks?

<p>To optimize performance across various cognitive processes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a cognitive domain that executive functions operate within?

<p>Emotional regulation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do executive functions relate to other regions of the brain?

<p>They instruct and coordinate the activities of other regions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the organization of executive functions?

<p>It supports various cognitive domains in a non-linear manner. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary requirement of executive functions according to many models?

<p>Flexible processing to override automatic behavior (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do executive functions influence behavior?

<p>They create a biasing influence on behavior likelihood (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of executive functions?

<p>Performing tasks without any cognitive flexibility (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What commonality do many approaches to executive functions emphasize?

<p>The agreement on core principles regarding processing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key distinction among different models of executive function?

<p>The assumption of the extent of executive function control (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is typically involved in most task-switching experiments?

<p>Both switching of response rules and stimulus selected (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of cognitive processes and brain regions, which area is associated with the reassignment of stimulus-response pairings?

<p>Medial frontal lobes (pre-SMA region) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinction did Rushworth et al. (2002) primarily investigate in their study on cognitive processes?

<p>The switching mechanisms involved in tasks (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive function is related to the lateral frontal regions during task-switching?

<p>Selection of the current rule (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What example illustrates the types of switches that can occur in task-switching experiments?

<p>Switching from responding to letters to digits (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it challenging to link specific brain regions to cognitive processes?

<p>Because brain regions do not function independently (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation when analyzing switching mechanisms in cognitive tasks?

<p>Difficulty in controlling for individual differences in attentional focus (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of cognitive tasks can be switched according to the description provided?

<p>Both response rules and selected stimuli (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Anatomical and Functional Divisions of the Prefrontal Cortex

  • Executive functions are crucial for optimizing performance in complex situations.
  • They are often conceptualized as the brain's conductor, coordinating cognitive processes.
  • The prefrontal cortex is a key brain area involved in executive functions.
  • The prefrontal cortex is responsible for meta-cognitive, supervisory, or controlling roles in cognitive processes.
  • Decisions are influenced by both bottom-up (environmental) and top-down (motivational) processes.

Executive Functions in Practice

  • The case of Phineas Gage demonstrates the impact of prefrontal cortex damage on executive functions.
  • Gage's injury involved a tamping iron penetrating his frontal lobe, causing significant personality and behavioral changes.
  • The prefrontal cortex is involved in planning, inhibition, working memory, and task switching.
  • The brain is able to make certain behaviors more or less likely by influencing the cognitive processes involved in those behaviors.

The Organization of Executive Functions

  • There are multiple models explaining executive function.
  • Most models suggest that executive functions require flexible processing to override automatic behaviors and switch between tasks.
  • They emphasize the importance of holding multiple goals in mind while engaging in specific tasks.
  • The extent to which different models propose a hierarchical system in executive function remains a point of discussion.

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