Cognitive Control and Its Anatomy

Actions driven by a desired outcome. We consciously choose to do them with a specific goal in mind.

Actions that become automatic and are no longer controlled by rewards. Triggered by specific stimuli and performed without conscious thought.

A model explaining drug addiction where the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is disrupted, leading to difficulty in controlling impulsive behaviors and evaluating situations.

A study where participants are presented with stimuli and asked to respond quickly, but sometimes instructed to withhold their response.

Chronic cocaine users often struggle with impulsive behavior and difficulty inhibiting actions, like in the "No-Go Task" where they frequently fail to withhold their responses.

A well-learned association that helps us quickly select a response, like automatically stopping at a red light.

An action that is triggered by context and performed without thought, even if it's not necessary or beneficial.

An action that is performed to achieve a specific goal, with a conscious understanding of the potential outcomes and consequences.

The temporary storage and manipulation of information needed for current tasks. It allows us to hold information in mind and use it to solve problems, make decisions, and guide our behavior.

The ability to suppress automatic responses and instead engage in goal-directed behavior. It involves controlling impulses, resisting distractions, and planning ahead.

The ability to hold information in mind for a short period of time, even when that information is not directly visible or being actively used.

The ability to withhold or delay a response, even if it is tempting to act immediately.

An automatic response to a stimulus, often based on learned associations.

Behavior that is directly triggered by external stimuli, without much conscious control or thought.

Behavior that is guided by internal goals, plans, and intentions, rather than simply reacting to stimuli.

Information that is stored in our long-term memory and can be accessed at any time, even if it is not currently in our working memory.

A task that requires remembering the location of a reward during a delay period, even after the reward is hidden.

A task that involves learning an association between a visual cue and a reward, but doesn't require remembering the exact reward location during a delay.

A neurological condition in which the prefrontal cortex is damaged, resulting in deficits in working memory.

The ability of animals to understand that objects continue to exist even when hidden. It is crucial for survival.

A crucial brain area involved in working memory, responsible for holding information active and accessible.

Neurons in the prefrontal cortex exhibit sustained activity during a delay period, indicating their role in maintaining information in working memory.

The capacity of the working memory system varies across species, influencing how long they can hold information and their ability to maintain attention.

Theories that explain how people should make decisions to achieve the best outcome.

Theories that describe what people actually do when making decisions, even if it's not the most optimal.

Decisions that involve interactions and choices made with other people in mind.

The value or importance we assign to each option when making a decision.

The process where we calculate the value of each choice and then compare them to make a decision.

Our brains have evolved to favor immediate rewards and conserve energy, impacting our decisions in a way that may not be ideal in modern times.

Decisions often made on the basis of habit and learned associations, without much conscious thought.

Decisions that we consciously think about, weighing potential benefits against costs, before we choose.

The value of a reward diminishes as the time required to obtain it increases. Think of it as preferring a smaller 'bird in hand' today over a potentially bigger 'bird in the bush' tomorrow.

Factors that influence how much we value a reward. These factors can be both internal - such as our current state of hunger or fatigue - and external - such as the time of day or the environment.

Rewards with inherent, innate value that directly benefit survival, such as food, water, or sex. These are rewards that have a biological basis.

Rewards that don't hold intrinsic value themselves, but gain their value through association with primary reinforcers. Monetary rewards, good grades, or social status are examples.

The overall subjective worth we place on a reward based on a combination of internal and external factors, such as temporal discounting, context, and personal preference.

The ability to delay immediate gratification for the sake of a potentially better reward later. This is a key factor in weighing reward value.

Our personal preference for certain rewards or experiences. These preferences can be based on past experience, aesthetics, or other personal factors.

The process of integrating various factors like temporal discounting, context, and personal preference to arrive at an overall subjective worth of a reward.

A specific brain region that plays a crucial role in planning, controlling, and executing complex behaviors.

When we learn something well, we can do it automatically without thinking, like driving a car. This happens when the PFC is less active.

When we learn something well and it becomes a habit, we rely less on the PFC for control, and more on ingrained patterns.

A specific type of brain activity that happens when we need to make a decision or choose an action. It involves coordinating activity in different brain regions.

The PFC is constantly receiving information from other parts of the brain to help us make decisions, even when we're not actively thinking about it.

When we're presented with a choice, the PFC is active, helping us decide what to do based on our goals and the consequences of our actions.

When we're presented with a choice, the PFC activates different areas in response to different options. This helps us to select the best option.

The PFC helps us to plan for the future, considering what we want to achieve and how to get there.

When we're presented with a cue or signal, the PFC helps us to respond quickly and accurately.

The PFC is involved in regulating our emotions and helping us to maintain control when faced with challenging situations.

When we learn new information, the PFC helps us to integrate that knowledge into our existing mental models.