Evolution of Control-Related Mental Models Crystal A. Brandon

Brief Overview Cognitive and Brain systems that support explicit, controlled problems solving Brain regions that support controlled problem solving and a sense of self Selection Characteristics that support an evolutionary basis for controlled problem solving

Implicit vs. Explicit Processes Implicit: neural, sensory, perceptual, and cognitive systems that automatically captures and processes information below the individual’s awareness. Explicit: inhibition of heuristic-based responding and the formation of conscious, explicit representations of corresponding information

The Central Executive Central Executive Attentional Control & Information Manipulation Central Executive Attentional Control & Information Manipulation Time 1 Time 2 Auditory Spatial Visual Object Face Gustatory Kinesthetic Visual Gustatory Kinesthetic Olfactory At Time 1 there is no specific focus of attention, but at Time 2 attention is focused on a face, which then becomes available to conscious awareness.

The Central Executive & Working Memory Important features of working memory. Differences in working memory capacity Performance on working memory tasks What is the connection between CE & working memory?

Baddeley’s Slave System Baddeley and Hitch proposed: Working memory is composed of the CE that controls attentional allocation and two slave systems, 1. Phonological Loop 2. Visuospatial Sketch Pad Third slave system? 3. Episodic Buffer

Autonoetic Awareness & Motivation to Control Semantic and episodic memory Noetic awareness & autonoetic awareness Autonoetic awareness & Motivation to Control

Prefrontal Cortex Cognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex (Wheeler) 1.Monitoring and integrating patterns of information as related to achievement of goals 2.Attentional control and inhibition of irrelevant information 3.Episodic memory and self- awareness

Prefrontal Cortex & Working Memory Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (Areas 9 & 46) –Activated when goal achievement requires dealing with some degree of novelty or conflict –Involved in maintaining the task goal in mind, guiding the sequencing of multiple problem solving, and suppressing interfering external or internal distractions Anterior Cingulated Cortex (Area 24) –Activated in situations that involve conflicting information during problem-solving –Activation of the ACC results in attentional shifts to working memory, allowing the individual to choose the appropriate alternative to solve the problem

Episodic Memory & Autonoetic Awareness Right prefrontal cortex is involved in the retrieval of episodic memories and in self- awareness. Injuries to the right prefrontal cortex Ex. Patient KC

Selection Characteristics 1.Concerns the frequency and predictability of information change; adaptation to change involves the operation of the central executive 2.Self-awareness and the ability to do mental time travel 3.Potential for a co-evolutionary arms race that would favor brain and cognitive evolution 4.Concerns whether the three forms of selection pressures are substantially different comparing humans to apes and other primates

Climatic Conditions 1.Time scale of climatic changes; explicit recall of climatic patterns 2.Not Clear! 3.Climatic variation does not fit conditions normally associated with an arms race 4.Other primates did not undergo the same changes as humans in the same climate

Ecological Conditions 1.Hunting involves sustained attention, a main feature of executive control 2.Planning a hunt allows projection of one’s self into the future 3.Hunting entails a predator-prey relationship, competition for supremacy 4.Humans are set apart from other primates in their ability to think abstractly understand the essence of other species

Social Conditions 1.Group-level competition involves unpredictable changes in information and behavioral patterns 2.Scenarios in which people project themselves are most often social 3.Within species social competition 4.Understanding of the self as a social being, language, and theory of mind are uniquely human social-cognitive models

Human Brain Evolution Expansion Views –Slightly larger human prefrontal cortex than great apes –Increased neural connection and surface area of the prefrontal cortex Reorganization Views –Evidence for change in organization of the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex –Both in combination are important for maintaining attentional focus, controlled problem solving, and involved in self-awareness.

Conscious-Psychological Evolution Cognition 1.Autonoetic Mental Model 2.“Perfect World” view 3.Consciousness 4.Self-awareness 5.Mental time travel 6.Problem solving 7.Controlled Attention & Working Memory 8.Feelings, positive and negative Brain 1.Expansion of the prefrontal cortex 2.Reorganization of the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex 3.Interconnection of cognitive and brain systems

Self-awareness & Theory of Mind Theory of Mind – the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one’s own Co-evolving relationship between self- awareness and theory of mind

Relation of Conscious-Psychological Mechanisms & Motivation to Control Self-efficacy: the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner or attaining certain goals Conscious-psychological mechanisms that aim to maintain self-efficacy –Attributing failure to external causes –Attributing others failure to internal causes