PSY 3061 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Order Of Operations, Cognitive Flexibility, Behavioral Neuroscience
Biopsychology lecture 3/26/18
Executive Function (EF)
• Diverse, but related set of mental processes that helps connect past experiences with present
action
• CEO of brain
• Neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation
• Shaped by a combination of physical changes in the brain and life experiences
• Daily activities
o Cooking/baking
o Driving
o Organizing a research project, trip, etc.
• Shift (cognitive flexibility): transition between situations, switching from one task to another
o Troubleshooting, changing your mind
o Respond appropriately to the situation
• Inhibition: Stop actions or thoughts at the appropriate time
o E.g., Waiting to speak until appropriate
• Working memory: Temporarily hold information or access information relevant for task
completion
o E.g., dates, names; PEMDAS
• Initiation: begin a task; generate ideas, responses, or problem-solving strategies; includes
arousal & effort
• Planning/Organization: manage current and prospective task demands, predict outcomes, set
long term goals
o Creating checklists, schedules, etc.
• Self-monitoring: monitor personal performance and measure it against a standard
o Keeping track of time, prioritizing, synthesizing content
• Emotional control: modulate emotional responses, respond appropriately to certain contexts
o Engaging in group-oriented activities, tolerate frustration
• Internalizing language: self-talk
Applications of EF
• Reading comprehension
o Self-monitoring: tracking text correctly, build meaning
o Shifting: drawing inferences & conclusions
o Planning/organizing: marking important sections
• Written expression
o Shifting: evaluating, rephrase or condense content
o Planning/organization: creating a complete, coherent thought, order of arguments,
following the traditional essay structure
• Test taking
o Self-monitoring: allocating enough time, reviewing material
o Planning/organizing: planning responses
