Cognitive Neuroscience - Executive Function

[blank_start]Executive function[blank_end] is an umbrella term for a range of cognitive processes that enable us to work in novel situations, where automatic behaviours are not sufficient.

List three typical task situations that heavily rely on the functioning of the prefrontal cortex: [blank_start]problem solving[blank_end], [blank_start]task switching[blank_end], [blank_start]multi-tasking[blank_end].

While the [blank_start]lateral[blank_end] prefrontal cortex is engaged in the executive processing of 'cold stimuli, the [blank_start]orbital[blank_end] and [blank_start]ventromedial prefrontal[blank_end] cortices are engaged in the executive processing of 'hot stimuli'.

There is an anterior to posterior organisation to the lateral prefrontal cortex, such that the more abstract information engages the more [blank_start]anterior[blank_end] regions and the least abstract information engages more [blank_start]posterior[blank_end] regions.

The right and left prefrontal cortices are functionally distinct in the the [blank_start]left[blank_end] lateral prefrontal cortex is specialised for task setting and the [blank_start]right[blank_end] lateral prefrontal cortex for task monitoring.

Definition of executive function and three task situations that require executive function. 1. Definition: Executive functions, also known as [blank_start]executive control[blank_end], is an umbrella term for cognitive processes that enable us to work in [blank_start]novel[blank_end] situations, where [blank_start]automatic[blank_end] behaviours are not sufficient. - executive function is responsible for [blank_start]controlled[blank_end] behaviours, which are [blank_start]intentional[blank_end], [blank_start]voluntary[blank_end] and [blank_start]effortful[blank_end]. - EF [blank_start]coordinate[blank_end] specialised cognitive processes. - metaphors for EF are the brain's [blank_start]conductor[blank_end] or the brain's [blank_start]executive team[blank_end]. 2. Task situations - [blank_start]Problem solving[blank_end] - open-ended questions that present novel situations eg. Tower of London task. - Inhibiting [blank_start]habitual[blank_end] responses - to generate novel responses one needs to inhibit habitual ones eg. Go/No-go Task - [blank_start]Task switching[blank_end] - unexpected rule changes that demand behavioural adjustments eg. Wisconsin Card sorting task.