scholarly journals No relation of Need for Cognition to basic executive functions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Gärtner ◽  
Julia Grass ◽  
Max Wolff ◽  
Thomas Goschke ◽  
Anja Strobel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Shape Matching ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Stop Signal ◽  
Self Control

Need for Cognition (NFC) refers to a personality trait describing the relatively stable intrinsic motivation of individuals to invest cognitive effort in cognitive endeavors. Higher NFC is associated with a more elaborated, central information processing style and increased recruitment of resources in cognitively demanding situations. To further clarify the association between cognitive resources and NFC, we examined in two studies how NFC relates to executive functions as basic cognitive abilities. In Study 1, 189 healthy young adults completed a NFC scale and a battery of six commonly used inhibitory control tasks (Stroop, antisaccade, stop-signal, flanker, shape-matching, word-naming). In Study 2, 102 healthy young adults completed the NFC scale and two tasks for each of the three executive functions inhibitory control (go-nogo, stop-signal), shifting (number-letter, color-shape) and working memory updating (two-back, letter-memory). Using a Bayesian approach to correlation analysis, we found no conclusive evidence that NFC was related to any executive function measure. Instead, we obtained even moderate evidence for the null hypothesis. Both studies add to more recent findings that shape the understanding of NFC as a trait that is less characterized by increased cognitive control abilities but rather by increased willingness to invest effort and exert self-control via motivational processes.

Patterns of Impairment in Executive Functions within Unipolar and Bipolar Depression

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S212-S212
Author(s):  
B. Suciu ◽  
R. Paunescu ◽  
I. Miclutia
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Bipolar Depression ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Unipolar Disorder ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Executive Impairment

IntroductionThe majority of studies revealed that cognitive deficits are an important aspect in many psychiatric illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. In the past, cognitive impairment was considered part of depression and it was expected to diminish as other mood symptoms improved with treatment.MethodThis study is based on the review of recent literature, performed in order to understand the dimension of executive impairment in unipolar and bipolar depression.ResultsBoth unipolar and bipolar depressed patients display cognitive deficits in several cognitive domains within executive functions. Different subcomponents of executive functions are altered in both types of patients, but impairments in sustained attention appear specific in bipolar depression while dysfunctional divided attention is reported in unipolar disorder. Studies describe deficits in planning strategies and monitoring processes that are characteristically impaired in unipolar depressed patients. Also these subjects tend to make more perseverative responses suggesting set shifting deficits and moreover they require longer time and more cognitive effort in order to accomplish tasks involving inhibitory control or cognitive flexibility. Other findings suggest that bipolar I depressed patients perform worse than bipolar II depressed patients and unipolar depressed patients across all executive functions especially in the decision making process that is considered to be a trait marker for bipolar disorder with no differences between the two types of bipolar subjects.ConclusionsExecutive functions represent a term that includes a higher order of cognitive abilities with deficits that are present in both disorders but display slightly different patterns of impairment.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Inhibitory Control in Sexually Coercive Men: Behavioral Insights Using a Stop-Signal Task With Neutral, Emotional, and Erotic Stimuli

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-319
Author(s):  
Fannie Carrier Emond ◽  
Kevin Nolet ◽  
Lucien Rochat ◽  
Joanne-Lucine Rouleau ◽  
Jean Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Stop Signal ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Stop Signal Task ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Erotic Stimuli ◽  
The Impact

Response inhibition is defined as one’s ability to voluntarily override an automatic or already initiated action when that action is inappropriate. Although a core mechanism of self-control, its association with sexual coercion perpetration and the impact of erotic cues on its exertion remain unknown. According to a domain-specific perspective on impulsivity, response inhibition performances should be disproportionately hindered by sexual cues in sexual coercion perpetrators. In total, 94 male college students completed a stop-signal task that included neutral, emotional, and erotic distracters. Results showed that men who reported past use of sexual coercion obtained overall poorer stop-signal task (SST) performances. Highly arousing sexual stimuli equally hindered the performances of perpetrators and non-perpetrators, whereas moderately arousing sexual and nonsexual positive stimuli did not significantly affect performances. Results do not support a domain-specific perspective on the link between response inhibition and sexual coercion, but rather suggest generally poorer inhibitory control among sexual coercion perpetrators.

scholarly journals Is there an effect of diglossia on cognition? An investigation of the relationship between diglossia and Executive Functions in young adults.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
najla alrwaita ◽  
Lotte Meteyard ◽  
Carmel Houston-price ◽  
Christos Pliatsikas
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Language Variety ◽  
Limited Opportunity ◽  
Control Hypothesis ◽  
The Relationship

Recent studies investigating whether bilingualism has effects on cognitive abilities beyond language have produced mixed results, with evidence from young adults typically showing no effects. These inconclusive patterns have been attributed to many uncontrolled factors, including linguistic similarity and the conversational contexts the bilinguals find themselves in, including the opportunities they get to switch between their languages. In this study, we focus on the effects on cognition of diglossia, a linguistic situation where two varieties of the same language are spoken in different and clearly separable contexts. We used linear mixed models to compare 32 Arabic diglossic young adults, and 38 English monolinguals on cognitive tasks assessing the Executive Functions domains of inhibition, switching and working memory. Results revealed that, despite both groups performing as expected on all tasks, there were no effects of diglossia on their performance in any of these domains. These results are discussed in relation to the Adaptive Control Hypothesis. Considering that this is the first study to investigate the diglossic advantages in Arabic, we propose that any effects on Executive Functions that may be attributed to the use of more than one language or language variety should not be expected when the two are used in exclusive contexts with limited opportunity to switch between them.

scholarly journals Need for cognition does not account for individual differences in metacontrol of decision making

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Bolenz ◽  
Maxine F. Profitt ◽  
Fabian Stechbarth ◽  
Ben Eppinger ◽  
Alexander Strobel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Effort

Humans show metacontrol of decision-making towards different reward magnitudes. Specifically, when higher rewards are at stake, individuals increase reliance on a more accurate but cognitively effortful strategy. We investigated whether the personality trait Need for Cognition (NFC) explains individual differences in metacontrol. Based on findings of cognitive effort expenditure in executive functions, we expected more metacontrol in individuals low in NFC. In two independent studies, metacontrol was assessed by means of a decision-making task that dissociates different reinforcement-learning strategies. In contrast to our expectations, NFC did not account for individual differences in metacontrol of decision making. These findings suggest a differential role of NFC for the regulation of cognitive effort in decision making and executive functions.

Consider this: Need for cognition mediates effects of trait self-control on rational deliberation

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekah L. Layton ◽  
Benjamin C. Ampel ◽  
Jeffrey M. Osgood ◽  
Elizabeth H. Parisi ◽  
Salvatore Fiorenti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Rational Deliberation

scholarly journals Effect of obesity on inhibitory control in preadolescents during stop-signal task. An event-related potentials study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela C. Alatorre-Cruz ◽  
Heather Downs ◽  
Darcy Hagood ◽  
Seth T. Sorensen ◽  
D. Keith Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Stop Signal ◽  
Stop Signal Task ◽  
Related Potentials

scholarly journals Dispositional individual differences in cognitive effort investment: establishing the core construct

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Kührt ◽  
Sebastian Pannasch ◽  
Stefan J. Kiebel ◽  
Alexander Strobel
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Effortful Control ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Effort Discounting ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

Abstract Background Individuals tend to avoid effortful tasks, regardless of whether they are physical or mental in nature. Recent experimental evidence is suggestive of individual differences in the dispositional willingness to invest cognitive effort in goal-directed behavior. The traits need for cognition (NFC) and self-control are related to behavioral measures of cognitive effort discounting and demand avoidance, respectively. Given that these traits are only moderately related, the question arises whether they reflect a common core factor underlying cognitive effort investment. If so, the common core of both traits might be related to behavioral measures of effort discounting in a more systematic fashion. To address this question, we aimed at specifying a core construct of cognitive effort investment that reflects dispositional differences in the willingness and tendency to exert effortful control. Methods We conducted two studies (N = 613 and N = 244) with questionnaires related to cognitive motivation and effort investment including assessment of NFC, intellect, self-control and effortful control. We first calculated Pearson correlations followed by two mediation models regarding intellect and its separate aspects, seek and conquer, as mediators. Next, we performed a confirmatory factor analysis of a hierarchical model of cognitive effort investment as second-order latent variable. First-order latent variables were cognitive motivation reflecting NFC and intellect, and effortful self-control reflecting self-control and effortful control. Finally, we calculated Pearson correlations between factor scores of the latent variables and general self-efficacy as well as traits of the Five Factor Model of Personality for validation purposes. Results Our findings support the hypothesized correlations between the assessed traits, where the relationship of NFC and self-control is specifically mediated via goal-directedness. We established and replicated a hierarchical factor model of cognitive motivation and effortful self-control that explains the shared variance of the first-order factors by a second-order factor of cognitive effort investment. Conclusions Taken together, our results integrate disparate literatures on cognitive motivation and self-control and provide a basis for further experimental research on the role of dispositional individual differences in goal-directed behavior and cost–benefit-models.

scholarly journals Contribution to the evaluation of language disturbances in subcortical lesions: a piloty study

2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia Radanovic ◽  
Letícia Lessa Mansur ◽  
Mariana Jardim Azambuja ◽  
Cláudia Sellitto Porto ◽  
Milberto Scaff
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Cognitive Networks ◽  
Vascular Lesions ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Subcortical Structures ◽  
Boston Naming Test ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Trail Making

Subcortical structures are in a strategic functional position within the cognitive networks and their lesion can interfere with a great number of functions. In this study, we describe fourteen subjects with exclusively subcortical vascular lesions (eight in the basal ganglia and six in the thalamus) and the interrelation between their language alterations and other cognitive abilities, as attention, memory and frontal executive functions. All patients were evaluated through the following batteries: Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Boston Naming Test, Token Test, Benton Visual Retention Test, Trail Making, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and a frontal scripts task. All patients underwent MRI and twelve underwent SPECT. Results show that these patients present impairment in several cognitive domains, especially attention and executive functions. These alterations affect language abilities, and this fact must be considered in the rehabilitation efforts.

scholarly journals The (In)significance of Executive Functions for the Trait of Self-Control: A Psychometric Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Nęcka ◽  
Aleksandra Gruszka ◽  
Jarosław Orzechowski ◽  
Michał Nowak ◽  
Natalia Wójcik
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Psychometric Study
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