This weeks lecture covert the frontal lobes and its executive functions. The human species has the most developed frontal lobes, and it is also the last area to develop in children. The frontal lobes are involved in thinking and the connection between sensory and memories are crucial to achieve cognition. Problem solving and judgment are also undertaken by the frontal lobes that besides that have the capacity to plan ahead. Numerous tests have been done to measure frontal lobes functions, which in general assess the ability of the patient to arrange previous experience reasonably, rationalize and be able to behave impulsively.
The executive functions of the frontal lobes embrace components such sustained attention where the individual cant deal with more than one things at a time, set- shifting and others. Set- shifting was especially measures in the Wisconsin Card Task (Milner, 1964) that demands a surprising change of rules (color or number). This means that patients with prefrontal cortex damage are failing to complete sorting the cards correctly. For patients with lesions, life is dependant on others, planning ahead is impossible and fundamental task like decision-making are affecting their behavior and personality and loosing track of organization is getting more complicated.
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| The Wisconsin Card Task, where the patient has to ignorer the color and tell what it is. Sometimes you have to answer whatcolour the card has, when the scientist changes the rules. depending on the patients impairment, there are more or less problems in shifting from one task to another. |
Scientists like Banich (2009) are trying to relate neurobiological and psychological methods further by looking at brain tasks individually and differentiate the diverse neurological models to understand the executive functions from a more rational perspective. Executive functions are also crucial for intelligent behavior, are necessary for the theory of mind as the frontal lobes are involved in everything to be aware and conscious.
