General Topic Are Cognitive Control

Rarely does one acknowledge the many sophisticated, neural processes performed for even the most simple of goal-related tasks. We live under the illusion that our conscious self is in complete control of our behaviors. However, mounting research in various fields of study demonstrates that this is not always the case. My interest in neuropsychology dates as far back as when I was a high school student. Upon completing an AP Psychology course, I gained a deeper appreciation towards human adaptive action. More specifically, I was fascinated by how individuals operate while concurrently experiencing extraneous internal and external noise, such as distractions. At the time when I was still unfamiliar with the field of psychology, I naturally gravitated towards the clinical aspect since populations who suffer with various neurological or psychological disorders often subjectively experience interference with the task at hand. It was not until my time as an undergraduate that I began to develop questions of my own and became interested in the

The cognitive-motor task paradigm is based on theories related to attentional resources. Attentional resources are defined as information processing resources that are required to complete a task 19. The limited capacity theory states that one central attentional resource exists 43. When two tasks are performed simultaneously, the central system must divide the total capacity between the tasks at hand. The performance of the secondary task can provide an indication of the total processing capacity and the attentional demands for the primary task. If the primary task does not require a large portion of the total processing capacity, performance of the secondary task will not be altered. If however, the primary task is more demanding for processing capacity, the performance of the secondary task will decrease as the total capacity is reached 43. In this theory, the two tasks compete for the same pool of limited resources. However, multiple resources theory states that there are several attentional resources, each with limited capacity, and the amount of specific resources required for performing certain tasks depends on the tasks characteristics. Under the assumption of multiple resource pools, the execution of two concurrent tasks only suffers if some of the resources required to perform one of the tasks are also necessary to perform the other task. Thus, when two tasks are performed simultaneously, the competition for available

Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking Fast and Slow, describes two systems: System 1, which is the automatic, effortless hero of the mind, and System 2, the “conscious, reasoning self”(p. 21). In separating the mind into two different processes, Kahneman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, developed different ways to measure how our minds and bodies react to stressing one process or the other. Since System 2 is inherently lazy, it often makes decisions after System 1 assess the situation. However, there are tasks that only System 2 can do, usually complex and vital, and because they are demanding and require discipline, System 2 can become overwhelmed, or work at

Inhibitory control has been defined as a structure that grants the suppression of actions that are considered not appropriate (Bjorklund & Harnishfeger, 1995). This structure is a weighty component in completing how mental processes work together in the achievement of a task (Dowsett & Livesey, 2000). Older research has suggested that the development of inhibitory control in homo sapiens was a major factor in the evolution of intelligence (Stenhouse, 1974). Later research further supports this claim by suggesting that Inhibitory control is important in intelligence (Kochanska, Murray, Jacques, Koenig, & Vandegeest, 1996). Research into inhibitory control has found that Inhibitory control is linked to impairment in a substantial amount of neurological disorders (Peterson et al., 1998). Inhibitory control is typically

Anderson, J.R. & Lebiere, C. (2003). The Newell Test for a theory of cognition. Behavioral and

The cognitive-motor task paradigm is based on theories related to attentional resources. Attentional resources are defined as information processing resources that are required to complete a task 19. The limited capacity theory states that one central attentional resource exists 42. When two tasks are performed simultaneously, the central system must divide the total capacity between the tasks at hand. The performance of the secondary task can provide an indication of the total processing capacity and the attentional demands for the primary task. If the primary task does not require a large portion of the total processing capacity, performance of the secondary task will not be altered. If however, the primary task is more demanding for processing capacity, the performance of the secondary task will decrease as the total capacity is reached 42. In this theory, the two tasks compete for the same pool of limited resources. However, multiple resources theory states that there are several attentional resources, each with limited capacity, and the amount of specific resources required for performing certain tasks depends on the tasks characteristics. Under the assumption of multiple resource pools, the execution of two concurrent tasks only suffers if some of the resources required to perform one of the tasks are also necessary to perform the other task. Thus, when two tasks are performed simultaneously, the competition for available

# on healthy participants. Due to this prior work, Owen et al (1998) were able to quite certainly state that GPi outputs to the prefrontal cortex were playing a vital role in the performance of these planning and spatial working memory tasks, both of which are higher functioning cognitive processes. Similarly, Jueptner et al (1997) performed a PET study that required healthy participants to learn sequences of 8 finger presses on a keyboard. After analysing the results, they explained that the

The processes of thought have been investigated for so long. Psychologists have investigated the brain’s involvement in the speed of processing information whether it is relevant or irrelevant. The two brain areas involved in the executive function of speed processing is the anterior cingulate and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This study compares the phenomenon of speed processing with the evidence from past research among Stroop(1935), Windes(1968), Macleod(1991) and a number of others. Through the years the Stroop study has been used as the framework on demonstrating the phenomenon of speed processing involving relevant and irrelevant information. Windes’ study has elaborated on reaction times of subjects for quantity naming and numeral naming. Macleod’s study ermphasized similarities and differences among many hypotheses; collaborating Stroop’s study. His study evaluates the pilosophical positions that arose from Stroop those of which include the relative speed of processing and automaticity.

Because the brain is so paramount, it has many crucial responsibilities; It is accountable for all of major functions, including what people are able detect, regulations of vital functions, and how the body interacts with the world in which it inhabits. As far as detection goes, the brain is answerable to how an individual notices odors, light, sound, and pain. (Brain) In like manner, The mind of a person regulates integral functions: mankind is capable of phenomenons such as strategizing and reasoning, the ability to speak and communicate with one another, and the faculty to obtain memory, and to focus on an event or object. Instinctual things, such as suxual inclination and sleeping and eating regulations, are also dependant on stimulus from the human brain.

Cognitive impairment is a public health problem occurred in the elderly. In this chapter, we discuss the research results, consisting of prevalence and factors associated with cognitive impairment in the elderly as well as the consistency between the tools used for screening cognitive impairment include the modified IQCODE and MMSE-Thai 2002 by comparing the research results with previous studies.

There is some research on neural structures that are involved in processing contextual cues with different modalities. A PET study investigated whether different cue modalities (visual, auditory, and somatosensory) would produce activation in different regions of the brain (Weeks, Honda, Catalan, & Hallett, 2001). However, no significant effects of the cue modality were found on activity of either cortical or subcortical regions. Meanwhile, the study observed a larger activation of bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) when subject’s motor action (button pressing) was externally triggered than when it was internally triggered. This suggested that PCC was involved in motor movement triggered by external cues in general. On the other hand, an fMRI study on attention demonstrated that auditory, visual, and tactile cues activated their respective cortical regions in a simple

Participants were asked to recall 20 facts after a control condition and once again after an interference condition, which acted as a high level of retroactive interference. They were asked to rate their mind wandering throughout the task and so the participants mind wandering level was compared against the level of retroactive interference experienced in order to see if the level of mind wandering effects retroactive interference during memory

The effect automatic processing has in decision making that is underneath the conscious; using colour identification task from the Stroop effect.

The brain’s recognition of objects and labels is instantaneous because of which incongruent stimuli greatly interfere in the brain’s ability to correctly label objects. The goal of our research was to examine the effects of incongruent labels on response time, illustrated through the Stroop test. The Stroop test is a well-known visual processing test created to determine how the cognitive process can be inhibited by what is seen and interpreted visually. Our specific Stroop task approached the interference between shapes and words, rather than colors and words. Participants were asked

The ability for adaptive behavior and the conditions that affect it has been a central area of research for psychologists since its inception. When behaviors are learned they become automatic processes. Automatic processes can be described as behavior that is not particularly motivated by the avoidance of error because a person no longer has to consciously think about the next piece of desired information. Automatic processes occur with less effort and error, whereas controlled processes need to occur with a person’s full attention. Controlled processes require conscious decisions to perform tasks and can be error-prone. Tasks such as walking, writing, and reading are examples of automatic processes that do not recognize an error until