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Questions and Answers
What is the difference between automatic and controlled behavior?
Which part of the brain plays a crucial role in executive functions?
What are the three different surfaces of the prefrontal cortex?
Which surface of the prefrontal cortex is more closely associated with sensory inputs?
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What role do circuits passing through the basal ganglia and thalamus play in behavior?
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What is the role of the basal ganglia loop to prefrontal cortex?
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What is the relationship between the prefrontal cortex and long-term memory?
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What is the basal ganglia loop to prefrontal cortex believed to be crucial for?
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Which part of the prefrontal cortex is more closely connected with structures critical for long-term memory and processing of emotion?
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What is the role of executive functions?
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What is the function of the thalamus in relation to the prefrontal cortex?
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What is the relationship between the prefrontal cortex and emotion processing?
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What is the relationship between the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia and thalamus?
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Study Notes
The concept of executive functions is closely related to the distinction between automatic and controlled behavior, which has a long history in cognitive science. Automatic behavior refers to actions that are performed without conscious control, while controlled behavior requires the use of executive functions. The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in executive functions, which enable individuals to optimize performance in situations requiring the operation and coordination of several more basic cognitive processes.
The prefrontal cortex has three different surfaces: the lateral surface, the medial surface, and the orbital surface. These surfaces are anatomically and functionally distinct, with the lateral surface being more closely associated with sensory inputs, and the medial and orbital surfaces being more closely connected with structures critical for long-term memory and processing of emotion.
Aside from these gross anatomical divisions, different regions of the prefrontal cortex have been divided into separate areas of functional specialization. These areas correspond approximately, although not exactly, with different Brodmann areas. The prefrontal cortex is the starting and ending point of various circuits that pass through the basal ganglia and thalamus, which modify activity in prefrontal cortex and ultimately affect the probability of behavior. The basal ganglia loop to prefrontal cortex is believed to be crucial for learning of novel tasks and making the transition from controlled behavior to automatic behavior.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the prefrontal cortex and executive functions with our quiz! From the different surfaces of the prefrontal cortex to the areas of functional specialization, this quiz will challenge your understanding of this important brain region. Challenge yourself to see how much you know about the role of executive functions in behavior and how the basal ganglia loop affects learning and behavior. Keywords: prefrontal cortex, executive functions, automatic behavior, controlled behavior, basal ganglia, Brodmann areas.