MoCA Executive Functioning 3

Question 1

A 72-year-old patient performs well on simple attention tasks but fails when two tasks must be performed simultaneously. This difficulty is best described as impaired:

Accepted Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Difficulty managing two simultaneous tasks reflects impaired divided attention, which is a component of executive functioning assessed on complex cognitive tests.

Question 2

On MoCA serial subtraction (100 minus 7, repeated), a patient makes one error but continues correctly from the wrong number. How many points is typically awarded?

Accepted Answer

3 points

Answer

The MoCA awards 3 points for 4–5 correct subtractions, 2 points for 2–3 correct, 1 point for 1 correct, and 0 for none; one error with correct continuation typically yields 3 points if enough subsequent answers are correct.

Question 3

A neuropsychologist describes a patient as having 'poor cognitive flexibility.' On the MoCA, this most directly impairs performance on which task?

Accepted Answer

Trail Making alternating sequence

Answer

The alternating Trail Making B task (1-A-2-B…) directly measures cognitive flexibility, the ability to shift mental set between two categories.

Question 4

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between executive functioning and the frontal lobes?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes, especially the prefrontal cortex, are the primary substrate for executive functions

Answer

The prefrontal cortex is the primary neural substrate for executive functions including planning, inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Question 5

A patient with intact language but impaired executive functioning is asked to name all animals they can think of in 60 seconds. What specific deficit would most reduce their score?

Accepted Answer

Impaired strategic search and self-monitoring of already-named items

Answer

Executive dysfunction impairs the strategic organization of semantic search and monitoring for perseverations, reducing category fluency output even when semantic knowledge is preserved.

(MoCA) Montreal Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

(MoCA) Montreal Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

MoCA Executive Functioning 3