Question 1

What role does the thalamus play in PFC activity?

Accepted Answer

The thalamus plays a crucial role in modulating prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity. The PFC is involved in a variety of complex cognitive functions, including decision-making, attention, working memory, and the regulation of emotions and behavior. The thalamus, often referred to as the brain's relay station, is centrally located and serves as a hub for information flow to and from various regions of the brain.

Here are some key points regarding the role of the thalamus in PFC activity:

1. Relay of Sensory Information: The thalamus receives sensory information from various systems (visual, auditory, somatosensory, etc.) and relays it to the appropriate areas of the cortex, including the PFC. This allows the PFC to integrate sensory data into cognitive processes.

2. Attention and Filtering: The thalamus is involved in the regulation of attention and the filtering of sensory information. It helps the PFC focus on relevant stimuli while ignoring distractions, which is essential for maintaining attention and engaging in goal-directed behavior.

3. Cognitive Function: The thalamus has connections with the PFC that are important for various cognitive functions. For example, the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus has extensive connections with the PFC and is implicated in memory and executive functions.

4. Regulation of Consciousness and Arousal: The thalamus interacts with the PFC in the regulation of consciousness, arousal, and sleep-wake cycles. It helps maintain cortical activity levels that are conducive to alertness and cognitive engagement.

5. Emotional Regulation: The thalamus also has connections with the limbic system, which is involved in emotional processing. Through its interactions with both the limbic system and the PFC, the thalamus plays a role in the regulation of emotions and the integration of emotional information into decision-making and behavior.

6. Feedback Loops: The PFC sends feedback signals to the thalamus, which in turn modulates thalamic activity. This reciprocal relationship allows for the fine-tuning of information processing and the coordination of neural activity across different brain regions.

In summary, the thalamus is integral to PFC activity by serving as a central relay for sensory and motor information, participating in attentional processes, contributing to cognitive and executive functions, regulating arousal and consciousness, and facilitating emotional regulation. Its interactions with the PFC are essential for the smooth execution of higher-order cognitive tasks and behaviors.

Question 2

How does the feedback-related negativity differ from the ERN?

Accepted Answer

The feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the error-related negativity (ERN) are both event-related potential (ERP) components that are observed in electroencephalography (EEG) studies of brain activity. Despite their similarities, they are associated with different cognitive processes and arise in response to different types of events.

The Error-Related Negativity (ERN):
- The ERN, also known as the Ne, is a negative deflection in the ERP that occurs approximately 50-100 milliseconds after a person makes an error in a task.
- It is thought to originate from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region of the brain involved in cognitive control and error detection.
- The ERN is believed to reflect the rapid processing of one's own errors, signaling that a discrepancy has occurred between the intended and the actual outcome of an action.
- It is typically observed during tasks that require a response, such as a button press, and is most pronounced when participants are aware that they have made an error.

The Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN):
- The FRN, on the other hand, is a negative deflection that occurs slightly later than the ERN, typically around 200-300 milliseconds after the presentation of feedback indicating a negative outcome, such as a loss or an incorrect response.
- The FRN is thought to be generated in similar brain regions as the ERN, including the ACC, but it is specifically associated with the processing of external feedback about performance rather than the detection of self-generated errors.
- This component is sensitive to the valence of the feedback; it is larger for negative feedback (e.g., losses, incorrect answers) compared to positive feedback (e.g., gains, correct answers).
- The FRN is observed during tasks where the outcome is contingent on the feedback provided by the environment, rather than the immediate correctness of the participant's response.

In summary, while both the ERN and FRN are negative deflections in the ERP associated with error processing and thought to originate from similar brain regions, they differ in their timing and the conditions that elicit them. The ERN is related to the rapid processing of self-generated errors without the need for external feedback, whereas the FRN is elicited by external feedback indicating a negative outcome. These components provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying error monitoring and adaptive behavior.

Question 3

The medial prefrontal cortex has been associated with which functions? (Check all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Which best characterizes perseveration on the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task that can follow from damage to the PFC?

Accepted Answer

Perseveration on the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task, following damage to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is characterized by difficulty in changing one's established rule for sorting, even when feedback indicates that the rule is no longer correct. This reflects a specific problem with cognitive flexibility and set-shifting, rather than issues with comprehension, memory, or initial rule establishment.

Question 5

What is the ERN (or Ne)? List three theories that have been used to explain why it comes about.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the ERN (or Ne)? List...

Question 6

If a patient wearing a hat walked into a room, saw a different hat on a hook, and put this second hat on her head (while still wearing the first), she would be exhibiting _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a patient wearing a hat walked...

Question 7

Define the reward prediction error signal. What neurotransmitter system is most strongly associated with "broadcasting" this signal to many parts of the brain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the reward prediction error signal. What...

Question 8

Describe three behavioral tendencies that can result from damage to the lateral PFC.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe three behavioral tendencies that can result...

Question 9

If a computational model only received a signal that the output it had produced was correct or incorrect, it would be learning via what type of mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a computational model only received a...

Question 10

Associate the following states of the PFC with hypothesized control-related functions: maintenance of task rule _____-state; update task rule _____-state

Accepted Answer

The answer of Associate the following states of the PFC...

Question 11

Contrast the roles of the dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in cognitive control.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Contrast the roles of the dorsolateral and...

Question 12

The auditory evoked potential (AEP) has been used to index what two critical functions of the PFC?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The auditory evoked potential (AEP) has been...

Question 13

Describe the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task. What is one of the primary behaviors that a patient with PFC damage would exhibit on this task?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task. What is...

Question 14

What are the three critical aspects of Rougier's model of PFC function?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the three critical aspects of...

Question 15

Describe PFC bistability. How is this affected by the midbrain dopamine system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe PFC bistability. How is this affected...

Question 16

Describe how neuronal oscillations might be important for implementing cognitive control.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how neuronal oscillations might be important...

Question 17

What are two mechanistic accounts for the A-not-B error? How has computational modeling been used to support one of these two accounts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are two mechanistic accounts for the...

Question 18

Cognitive control involves multiple cognitive operations. Name three of them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cognitive control involves multiple cognitive operations. Name...

Question 19

What behavior is a person exhibiting when they continue to perform a task in a certain way, despite being given feedback that they are doing it wrong?

Accepted Answer

Perseveration is the behavior where a person continues to repeat the same action or response, even when it is inappropriate or incorrect, often despite receiving feedback or evidence indicating that a change in behavior is needed. This can occur in various contexts, including cognitive tasks, speech, and motor actions.

Question 20

What is the A-not-B error?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the A-not-B error?...

Quiz 14: Cognitive Control