Executive Processes

Psych 55: Lecture 12

February 11, 2010

Lecture Outline Lecture Outline

1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function? 1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function?

2. WHERE is it in the brain? 2. WHERE is it in the brain?

3. HOW does it work? 3. HOW does it work?

4. WHY is it important? 4. WHY is it important?

5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it? 5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it?
 Executive Processes/ Executive Processes/
Cognitive Control Cognitive Control

The ability to guide attention, thought and The ability to guide attention, thought and
action in accordance with goals or intentions. action in accordance with goals or intentions.

– Planning a sequence of activities

– Inhibition of automatic processes
– Selection of target responses
– Shifting attention voluntarily
– Monitoring performance

BLUE BLUE
PURPLE PURPLE
WHITE WHITE
ORANGE ORANGE
GREEN GREEN
PURPLE PURPLE
RED RED
Stroop Task YELLOW Stroop Task YELLOW
Wisconsin
Card Sort Task
 Lecture Outline
The frontal lobes are
essential for:

1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function? “…organizing intellectual

2. WHERE is it in the brain? activity as a whole, including
the programming of the
3. HOW does it work? intellectual act and the
performance”
checking of its performance”
4. WHY is it important?

5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it? Alexander

R. Luria
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

Chimpanzee

Human
 Phineas Gage

TUMOR DEGENERATIVE

STROKE

TRAUMA BULLET

Phineas Gage
Lesions in PFC Deficits:

- Increased distractibility
- Perseverative thoughts, response tendencies
- Inability to inhibit inappropriate responses
- Inability to maintain information in the face of interference
- Difficulty planning ahead and strategizing
- Inactivity/initiation difficulties
- Reliant on external cues to initiate behavior
- Imitation and utlization behavior
 Perseveration

Imitation Behavior
Utilization Behavior
 Lecture Outline BLUE
PURPLE
1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function? WHITE
2. WHERE is it in the brain? ORANGE
3. HOW does it work? GREEN
4. WHY is it important? PURPLE
5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it?
RED
Stroop Task YELLOW

Conflict Monitor Conflict Monitor

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word
 Conflict Monitor Conflict Monitor
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

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Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE

Conflict Monitor Conflict Monitor

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 Conflict Monitor Conflict Monitor
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE

Conflict Monitor Conflict Monitor

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 PFC PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE

PFC PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 PFC PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE

PFC PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 PFC Conflict Monitor PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE

Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE

Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE

Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC

Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE
 Conflict Monitor PFC Conflict Monitor PFC
Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal) Verbal Response Control Layer (Goal)
“Red” “Blue” Colors Words “Red” “Blue” Colors Words

Hidden Hidden

Input Input
Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue Red Blue
Ink color Word Ink color Word

BLUE BLUE

Cognitive Control = Limited Resource

Baumeister et al. 1998 Baumeister et al. 1998

 1. Cognitive Control Task 2. Beer Taste Test 3. Driving Task
40
Radishes
Cookies
30

20

High: White Bear

10

0
2 X 3 = ___
Time (min) Attempts
Low: Arithmetic

Baumeister et al. 1998 Muraven et al., 2002

Lecture Outline
Beer Consumed (ml.) Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
900 0.050

850
0.045
1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function?
800

2. WHERE is it in the brain?

750 0.040

700 3. HOW does it work?

0.035
650
4. WHY is it important?
600 0.030
White Bear Arithmetic White Bear Arithmetic 5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it?

Muraven et al., 2002

 Delay of Gratification: Kids who delay 15 minutes
The Marshmallow Task vs.
Kids who delay 30 seconds

– Easier time making friends

– Score 210 points higher on SATs
– Lower body mass index (BMI) as adults
– Fewer instances of drug abuse
– Better at other measures of cognitive control

Walter Mischel

Lecture Outline Improve Executive Functioning

1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function? – Watch a funny movie

2. WHERE is it in the brain? – Take a walk in nature
– Drink a cup of coffee
3. HOW does it work?
– Improve your posture
4. WHY is it important?
– Meditate
5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it?
 Lecture Outline

1. WHAT is cognitive control/executive function?

2. WHERE is it in the brain?

3. HOW does it work?

4. WHY is it important?

5. WHEN do we learn how to improve it?