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

Potential types of contingency event, a) (i) Describe what do you understan...

a) (i) Describe what do you understand by the term "Contingency Event" within the context of MACSS using a suitable example to support your answer. (ii) Show the five main poten

Describe drug addiction, Problem 1: (a) Critically show the following ...

Problem 1: (a) Critically show the following concepts: drug addict, dependency and tolerance. Use relevant examples to support your answer. (b) Critically discuss the d

science a2, What reaction is used to reduce the lactose content of milk

What reaction is used to reduce the lactose content of milk?

Describe the themes and importance of geography, Problem: 1. What is th...

Problem: 1. What is the importance of knowledge of time zones in terms of geography in Tourism? 2. Describe the physical and tourism characteristics of America. 3. Briefly exp

Poetry, need help finding literary terms in a song

need help finding literary terms in a song

Biomedical informatics, What is the utility of a linear model of patient ca...

What is the utility of a linear model of patient care as the basis for a decision-support system? What are two primary limitations? Discuss two challenges that a nonlinear model po

World geography, what is the relationship between physical and human charac...

what is the relationship between physical and human characteristics of a place

Types of diseases caused by drugs, SOLVE is an interactive educational prog...

SOLVE is an interactive educational programme designed by the ILO to assist in the development of policy and action to address psychosocial hazards or problems at workplaces. The

selection program in hrm, ANALYZING AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND E...

ANALYZING AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN EMPLOYMENT SELECTION PROGRAMME

Save catalogue to file, Implement the save catalogue to file menu option....

Implement the save catalogue to file menu option.  After selecting this option the user should be asked to specify the name of the save file.  All the catalogue data should be st

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