Prefrontal Cortex and Executive Functioning Flashcards Preview

MD1 Neuroscience > Prefrontal Cortex and Executive Functioning > Flashcards

Flashcards in Prefrontal Cortex and Executive Functioning Deck (33)
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1
Q

What are some of the functions of the frontal lobe?

A

Motor control
Language
Higher level cognition
- Executive functioning

2
Q

What kind of presentation can a lesion in a particular nucleus of the thalamus lead to?

A

Similar to what you’d see if lesion in connected cortical area

3
Q

What is the difference between lobotomy and locotomy?

A
Lobotomy = removal of tissue
Locotomy = severing of connections
4
Q

What is the anterior unit in Luria’s functional systems?

A

Prefrontal cortex

5
Q

What is executive function?

A

Inter-related processes responsible for goal directed, purposeful behaviour
Includes emotional and social behaviour, and cognition
“Frontal lobe” function

6
Q

What are the areas of the prefrontal cortex responsible for executive function?

A

Lateral
Orbital
Medial

7
Q

Does damage to each area responsible for executive function present the same way?

A

No

8
Q

Which part of the prefrontal cortex is usually tested, in regards to executive function?

A

Usually only lateral function routinely tested

9
Q

What does the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex do?

A
Working memory
Response selection
Planning and organised
Hypothesis generation
Flexibility maintaining/shifting set
Insight
Moral judgement
10
Q

What supplies the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?

A

Largely middle cerebral artery

11
Q

What is working memory?

A

Keep information in mind and manipulate it a little

12
Q

What is response selection?

A

What is best response in this situation?

13
Q

What is planning and organising?

A

How to carry out simple tasks; eg: making cup of tea

14
Q

What is hypothesis generation?

A

Reason through different solutions to a problem

15
Q

What is flexibility maintaining/shifting set?

A

Maintain train of thought but shift if need to

16
Q

What does the medial prefrontal cortex do?

A

Emotional-motivational interface

  • At most extreme: akinetic mutism
  • Apathy
  • Lack of initiative
  • Indifference
17
Q

What is the blood supply of the medial prefrontal cortex?

A

Anterior cerebral artery

18
Q

What is akinetic mutism?

A

Lack of desire to talk > don’t talk at all

19
Q

What does the orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex do?

A
Highly connected to limbic areas
Inhibition
- Emotional
- Cognitive
- Social
Impulsivity
20
Q

What is the blood supply to the orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex?

A

Anterior and middle cerebral arteries

21
Q

Which area is the last to develop in the brain?

A

Frontal lobe

22
Q

Which area is the first to degenerate in the brain?

A

Frontal lobe

23
Q

Which abilities are amongst the last to reach maturity?

A

Executive functions

  • Lower order functions develop first
  • Higher order develop later
24
Q

In which order to executive functions develop?

A
  1. Theory of mind
  2. Cognitive flexibility
  3. Inhibitory control
  4. Affective decision-making
  5. Working memory
25
Q

Are executive and frontal lobe dysfunction the same disorder?

A

No

26
Q

What is important to note when thinking about executive dysfunction?

A

Can occur because of disruption at any level of system; eg: executive symptoms from subcortical lesions

27
Q

What are the positive symptoms of executive dysfunction?

A
Distractability
Social dysinhibition
Emotional instability
Perseveration
Impulsivity
Hypergraphia
28
Q

What are the negative symptoms of executive dysfunction?

A
Lack of concern
Restricted emotion
Deficient empathy
Failure to complete tasks
Lack of initiation
29
Q

How are medial and orbitofrontal prefrontal cortical lesions formally assessed?

A

Difficult to do
Clinical judgement
History taking

30
Q

What executive dysfunction does the “tower of London” test?

A

Disinhibition and problem solving
In dysfunction
- Disregard rules
- Can’t figure out strategy to complete task

31
Q

What executive dysfunction does the “stroop test” test?

A

Disinhibition

32
Q

What executive dysfunction does the “Rey complex figure test” test?

A

Planning deficit

33
Q

What are some common causes of executive dysfunction?

A
Closed head injury
Stroke
Psychiatric conditions
Dementias
Focal lesions
Inflammatory
Developmental

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