Inhibition and Set-Shifting Tasks in Central Executive Function of Working Memory : An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study

AbstractObjectives: Sleep quality affects memory and executive function in older adults, but little is known about its effects in midlife. If it affects cognition in midlife, it may be a modifiable factor for later-life functioning. Methods: We examined the association between sleep quality and cognition in 1220 middle-aged male twins (age 51–60 years) from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. We interviewed participants with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and tested them for episodic memory as well as executive functions of inhibitory and interference control, updating in working memory, and set shifting. Interference control was assessed during episodic memory, inhibitory control during working memory, and non-memory conditions and set shifting during working memory and non-memory conditions. Results: After adjusting for covariates and correcting for multiple comparisons, sleep quality was positively associated with updating in working memory, set shifting in the context of working memory, and better visual-spatial (but not verbal) episodic memory, and at trend level, with interference control in the context of episodic memory. Conclusions: Sleep quality was associated with visual-spatial recall and possible resistance to proactive/retroactive interference. It was also associated with updating in working memory and with set shifting, but only when working memory demands were relatively high. Thus, effects of sleep quality on midlife cognition appear to be at the intersection of executive function and memory processes. Subtle deficits in these age-susceptible cognitive functions may indicate increased risk for decline in cognitive abilities later in life that might be reduced by improved midlife sleep quality. (JINS, 2018, 24, 67–76)

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Exploring the Central Executive in Situation Awareness

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.106.1.105-118 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 106 (1) ◽

pp. 105-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abdrabo Moghazy Soliman

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Situation Awareness ◽

Executive Control ◽

Global Assessment ◽

Real Life ◽

Central Executive ◽

Driving Simulation ◽

Assessment Technique

Despite its significance, the central executive is the least explored component of working memory, particularly in complicated contexts. Exp. 1 investigated the role of executive control of working memory in situation awareness in a real-life driving simulation. Exp. 2 examined the extent to which taxing the central executive might affect situation awareness. High, Medium, and Low Situation Awareness groups were formed as assessed using the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique. Executive function was measured using several tests. Results from Exp. 1 demonstrated that the Low Situation Awareness group performed significantly worse on all executive function tasks compared to High and Medium Situation Awareness groups. Findings from Exp. 2 suggested that concurrent load on the central executive dramatically affected the Low Situation Awareness group but not the High Situation Awareness group: the former had significantly more driving violations under central executive load.

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Working memory in clinical depression: an experimental study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700038873 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 87-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Shelley Channon ◽

Jane E. Baker ◽

Mary M. Robertson

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Central Executive ◽

Clinical Depression ◽

Clinically Depressed ◽

Normal Controls

SynopsisThis study compared clinically depressed subjects with normal controls on a range of working memory tasks. The findings suggested the articulatory loop and visuospatial sketch pad components of working memory to be unimpaired in depression. On a range of clinical tasks likely to involve central executive function, depressed subjects showed impairment only on some tasks.

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Fiske & Holmboe (2018): Neural Substrates of Early Executive Function Development

10.31234/osf.io/vr4fz ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Abigail Fiske ◽

Karla Holmboe

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Executive Function ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Neural Substrates ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Brain Areas ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Neural Underpinnings ◽

Neuroimaging Techniques

In the last decade, advances in neuroimaging technologies have given rise to a large number of research studies that investigate the neural underpinnings of executive function (EF). EF has long been associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and involves both a unified, general element, as well as the distinct, separable elements of working memory, inhibitory control and set shifting. We will highlight the value of utilising advances in neuroimaging techniques to uncover answers to some of the most pressing questions in the field of early EF development. First, this review will explore the development and neural substrates of each element of EF. Second, the structural, anatomical and biochemical changes that occur in the PFC during infancy and throughout childhood will be examined, in order to address the importance of these changes for the development of EF. Third, the importance of connectivity between regions of the PFC and other brain areas in EF development is reviewed. Finally, throughout this review more recent developments in neuroimaging techniques will be addressed alongside the implications for further elucidating the neural substrates of early EF development in the future.

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Central executive function in working memory: event-related brain potential studies

Cognitive Brain Research ◽

10.1016/s0926-6410(97)00035-9 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 235-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Ivan Kiss ◽

Charlene Pisio ◽

Andre Francois ◽

Donald Schopflocher

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Central Executive ◽

Brain Potential ◽

Memory Event

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Executive Functions in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: State or Trait Deficits?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01928.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (11-12) ◽

pp. 1031-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shelley Bannon ◽

Craig J. Gonsalvez ◽

Rodney J. Croft ◽

Philip M. Boyce

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Panic Disorder ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Design Study ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder

Objective: Despite the neuropsychology literature providing reliable evidence of impaired executive functions in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), to date it has not been determined whether these deficits are trait-related (independent of symptomatology) or state-dependent (dependent on symptomatology). The current research examines the executive functions in OCD in a comprehensive manner and, for the first time, assesses the stability of these deficits over the developmental course of the disorder. Method: Using a cross-sectional design, Study 1 examined the executive functions (set shifting, inhibition, planning, verbal fluency and working memory) in 60 subjects (20 actively Symptomatic OCD, 20 Remitted OCD and 20 Panic Disorder). Using a longitudinal design, Study 2 reassessed a subsample of OCD subjects (participants in Study 1) once they reached remitted status. Results: Study 1 found that the OCD groups exhibited deficits in set shifting and inhibition relative to Panic Disorder controls; however, no deficits were observed in planning, verbal fluency or working memory. There were no differences found between the Symptomatic and Remitted OCD groups on any of the executive function measures. Study 2 found that the identified executive function deficits in individuals were stable over time and remained unchanged despite symptom remittance. Conclusion: Current results confirm the presence of specific executive function deficits in OCD, and indicate that these deficits are trait-like in nature.

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Effectiveness of executive function training on mental set shifting, working memory and inhibition in healthy older adults: A double-blind randomized controlled trials

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/jan.13519 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (5) ◽

pp. 1099-1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Huei-Ling Chiu ◽

Pi-Tuan Chan ◽

Ching-Chiu Kao ◽

Hsin Chu ◽

Pi-Chen Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Double Blind ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Executive Function Training

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The influence of autonomous sensory meridian response on individual’s executive function

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1177/1747021820922954 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (10) ◽

pp. 1587-1595 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xieshun Wang ◽

Xinyue Yang ◽

Yiwen Sun ◽

Yanjie Su

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Baseline Condition ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Intrinsic Difference ◽

Treatment Conditions ◽

And Control ◽

Perceptual Phenomenon ◽

Normal Speaking

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a special perceptual phenomenon in which some people can experience a tingling, static-like sensation in response to some certain auditory/visual stimulations. This study compared the performance of executive function (working memory, set shifting, and inhibitory control) between ASMR participants and control participants after three auditory treatment conditions, i.e., ASMR-triggering audio (Triggering), normal-speaking audio (Normal), and with no auditory treatment (Baseline). The results showed that the ASMR individuals did not differ in executive function with the control participants in either Normal or Baseline condition. However, the set shifting and inhibitory control of ASMR individuals slowed down after ASMR-triggering auditory treatment. In this study, ASMR individuals with ASMR-triggering auditory treatment reported that they all experienced three ASMR episodes before completing executive function tasks. These findings indicated that there was no intrinsic difference in executive function between ASMR and control individuals. But ASMR individuals’ executive function would be interfered when the ASMR was triggered.

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