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

Differenttypes of regime and their effects on environmental, what are the a...

what are the advantages and disadvantages on different types of property regimes and their effects on environmental resource management

Coronado, How would land elevation have changed if Coronado had traveled 15...

How would land elevation have changed if Coronado had traveled 150 miles due west from what is today Arizona instead of east toward new Mexico?

Mr, Mississippi can be broken down into eight geographical regions.

Mississippi can be broken down into eight geographical regions.

Need help with a medical billing and coding question, Besides holding respo...

Besides holding responsibility of the ICD-9-CM what are other characteristics of this organization?

Evaluate effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership, The assessment provi...

The assessment provides the student with the opportunity to critically evaluate effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership (CNL) and discuss how they may apply effective CNL as a

Classics and the modern world, Classics and the Modern World: These are th...

Classics and the Modern World: These are the study of the culture, languages, history and thought of the civilizations of ancient Rome and Greece. It is one of the most interd

American indians, What American Indian group made the canoe

What American Indian group made the canoe

Composition 2, 1. explain why it is important to put observations in writin...

1. explain why it is important to put observations in writing. How can observation enrich our writing? 2. At what point could making an observation halt or obstruct the writing pr

Alternative systems of e-cash, Alternative Systems of E-cash Officially...

Alternative Systems of E-cash Officially digital money or electronic is a illustration, or a system of credits and debits, used to replace value, inside another system, or itse

Lp and simulation, On their farm, the Friendly family grows apples that the...

On their farm, the Friendly family grows apples that they harvest each fall and make into three products apple butter, applesauce, and apple jelly. They sell these three items at s

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