CSD 1237 - Final Exam

Executive Function

Attention

Memory

Name! That! Structure!

Name! That! Other! Structure!

100

Which prefrontal region is most associated with working memory and planning? (Broadly and Specifically)

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)

100

Which type of attention involves maintaining focus over time?

Sustained Attention

100

What are the 3 steps of the Information Processing Model?

Encoding, Storage, Retrieval

100

"The brain’s memory librarian" – organizes and files new long-term memories for storage

Hippocampus

100

"Sensory relay station" – directs incoming sensory info to the right part of the brain

Thalamus

200

Describe how you'd set up a response inhibition task using images like this. In that task, what would be a congruent trials vs an incongruent trial?

"Press the button on the right when you see a dog, but press the button of the left when you see a cat."

In congruent trials, the stimulus and the required response are spatially aligned.

In incongruent trials, the stimulus and the required response are spatially misaligned

200

Which brain area is important for shifting attention to different locations or stimuli AND ALSO is most likely to cause hemispatial neglect when damaged (a neurological condition where individuals experience a reduced awareness of stimuli and events on one side of their body)?

Hint:

Posterior Parietal Cortex (PPC)

200

Why do we remember the beginning and end of a list better?

The beginning benefits from rehearsal (primacy), and the end is still active in working memory (recency).

200

"Speech production HQ" – helps you turn thoughts into spoken words

Broca's Area

200

"Fear and feelings center" – processes emotions like fear, anger, and pleasure

Amygdala

300

Describe the relationship between delay of gratification and academic success. What happens when SES is controlled for?

If you can resist an immediate reward in favor of a larger, future reward—you tend to stronger outcomes in areas such as academic achievement, emotional regulation, and long-term goal attainment.

When SES is controlled, much of that predictive power diminishes, indicating that external factors (e.g., family stability, access to resources, enriched environments) play a substantial role in shaping both self-regulation and academic outcomes.

300

Provide an example of alternating attention in daily life. Be careful not to confuse with divided attention.

Alternating: Cooking dinner while checking homework --> You focus on stirring a pot, then shift your attention to help a child with a math problem, then return to cooking.

Divided: Cooking while listening to a podcast or music with lyrics --> You’re attending to recipe steps, stirring or measuring, while also trying to comprehend what’s being said in the podcast.

300

Tying your shoelaces evokes long-term memory. What specific subtype?

Procedural Memory

Once you've learned how to tie your shoes, you can usually do it without consciously thinking about the steps involved. You don’t need to recall each movement—your body just knows the loops!

300