Executive functions in cognitive neuroscience, Other Subject

Assignment Help:
Executive functions refer to a range of higher-order cognitive functions that enable organized and goal-directed behavior. Problems manifested by two exemplary brain damaged patients help illustrate the role executive functions play in cognition and everyday life. The first example is patient A, who suffers brain damage in a traffic accident. In the hospital he seems to recover well. He is able to perform relatively well in standard intelligence quotient tests as well as in other tests that are used in clinical neuropsyhological examination, such as tests for memory and attention. Surprising problems emerge, however, during the weeks following release from hospital. Relatives soon begin to complain that the patient’s behavior seems impulsive and erratic, selling his luxurious home for few thousands, forgetting to pay items that he takes from the store, and ending up in quarrels with his friends and neighbours.


Another exemplary patient, here called patient B, suffers a stroke. After initial recovery he too shows surprisingly intact performance in standard clinical neuropsychological tests. It does not, however, take long before his relatives start complaining about what they describe as apathy and lack of initiative exhibited by the patient at home. He fails to initiate and carry through any behaviors on his own. However, if instructed and supervised through a sequence of behaviors such as preparing and eating breakfast he carries out the tasks without major problems. What these exemplary patient cases have in common is that both exhibit problems in executive functions that often follow from damage to the frontal lobes of the brain, especially to prefrontal cortical areas. Findings pertaining to this will be described in the following.

Related Discussions:- Executive functions in cognitive neuroscience

African Studies, How did black artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers ...

How did black artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers negotiate the dilemma of dual consciousness as articulated by DuBois? Which part of black art did white corporate executiv

Current event assignment , Assignment must be typed. Assignment must not be...

Assignment must be typed. Assignment must not be longer than two pages. Assignment: Locate a current case or factual situation in the news which involves a tort.In narrative for

Water in digestion process, Water makes up about 66 percent of the human bo...

Water makes up about 66 percent of the human body and hence is vital for the body. • Water helps to remove the dangerous toxins that our body takes in from the air, the food and

Explain peters and watermans organizational model, Question: (a) Exami...

Question: (a) Examine the following sub-systems in so far as they enhance our understanding of the educational system: normative, strategic, operational and administrative. Su

Feminist research methodologies:, Feminist Research Methodologies: Feminis...

Feminist Research Methodologies: Feminist research is research which is carried out by women who identify as feminists, and which has a particular purpose for knowing (a `why'), p

Prioritising immediate care of this patient, You are a new graduate nurse o...

You are a new graduate nurse on your second rotation in a 40-bed acute surgical ward specialising in cardiothoracic-surgery. It is 1800hrs on your afternoon shift and you have been

African studies, Compare and contrast the European Slave Trade with "intra-...

Compare and contrast the European Slave Trade with "intra-African" slavery/servitude (slavery/servitude practiced on the African continent between Africans). Discuss the relevance

Punch-out from wcbe and wcs mpe to external suppliers, Punch-out from WCBE ...

Punch-out from WCBE and WCS MPE to External Suppliers A conventional electronic marketplace (EMP) or a private trading exchange (PTX), such as IBM WCS MPE, provides a variety o

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd