Posted on by alexbswan

Do You Have Any Control ?

By Makenzie Molden

Control it’s hard to handle sometimes. Especially as a freshman since you have this new found freedom but as they also freedom come reasonability. The change from high school to college especially if your living on campus is hard enough but there I also the learning, studying and time management transition, Study, learning and time management is all so different once you start college, the same skills can sometime no linger be helpful so while your trying to make new friends, and learn your way around campus you also have to relearn how to learn and study while making sure you’re not falling behind and that where cognitive control will become your best friends especially your first year.

Cognitive Control

Cognitive control is the intentional choosing of ideas, emotions, and behaviors based on the events around you and the environment. Cognitive control could be used if the individual believed the emotional benefit would out weight the effort of completing the task. The emotional benefit is a crucial factor that influences the choice to use cognitive control. An individual is more likely to choose the easier task or procrastinate if their attention is more focused on the effort of using cognitive control. Cognitive control involves the individual, creating goals, using the same amount of effort and the ability to switch between tasks with ease. Using cognitive control also involves allowing people to reflect on their thoughts, feelings and set long term goals by considering the emotional benefits of the potential outcomes. With cognitive control, incentives can play a crucial role, whether it be an a material reward food reward, social praise, an fundamental reward, or avoiding punishment each motivate the individual to use cognitive control. When people believe using cognitive control will have an emotional benefit greater than the effort to complete the task whether it be immediate or future benefit they will be more likely to use cognitive control. Cognitive control is often used to have desirable long term results. Attention Attention is the ability to actively process specific information in the environment while tuning out other details. Attention allows you to tune out information sensations, and perceptions that are not relevant at that moment and instead focus your energy on the information that’s important. Attention allows students to focus on information to avoid distractions So that they can focus on and complete Specific tasks. To Improve your attention you should avoid multitasking, getting enough sleep and procure mind fullness, which involves paying attention to the present moment.

Working Memory

Working memory is a skill that allows us to work with information without losing track of what we’re doing. It can store verbal, visual, and Spatial information in the mind, whilst allowing us to engage in other cognitive activities. It impacts all areas of thinking and learning. Sometimes we need simple strategies to maximize the limited Capacity of our working memory like writing things down. Working memory is crucial for paying attention. The capacity of working memory is different from person to person. Information can be easily lost because of a distraction or cognitive overload. To improve your working memory, you should work on your recall, visualize, simplifying the information and being mindful. Time Management Time management refers to your ability to structure specific goal’s within a particular period. Time management requires self-awareness. Realizing a goal takes time and energy. Poor time management will make achieving your goals longer and could increase your risk of burnout. Good time management ensure that your time is working productive and accounts for necessary rest. The time management skills you need are: prioritizing, delegating, problem solving, scheduling, goal setting, stress management, planning, and resource management. Any goal you set should follow the SMART goal rule: Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time bound. The goals you set should motivate you. They should be important to you there needs to be a value in accepting them. The Key to achieving any and all goals is motivation. Make your goals specific, make hem as clear of where you want to end up. Include as many details as you can asses yourself in the progress. Don’t set goals that are too easy or too hard, finding the right balance for yourself. The goal need to be relent goals to the end achievement you want. You also need to set clear concert deadlines, In conclusion, cognitive control is more likely to be used when the emotional benefit outweighs the effort of completing the tasks. Cognitive control has three components, Attention allowing you to focus on the information, working memory allowing you to use the information on the task a hand, and time management the key to all your accomplishment along the way. Each working together to give you the tools to control your behavior when trying to achieve you goal for college.

Working Memory
Working memory is a skill that allows us to work with information without losing track of what we’re doing. It can store verbal, visual, and Spatial information in the mind, whilst allowing us to engage in other cognitive activities. It impacts all areas of thinking and learning. Sometimes we need simple strategies to maximize the limited Capacity of our working memory like writing things down. Working memory is crucial for paying attention. The capacity of working memory is different from person to person. Information can be easily lost because of a distraction or cognitive overload. To improve your working memory, you should work on your recall, visualize, simplifying the information and being mindful.

Time Management
Time management refers to your ability to structure specific goal’s within a particular period. Time management requires self-awareness. Realizing a goal takes time and energy. Poor time management will make achieving your goals longer and could increase your risk of burnout. Good time management ensure that your time is working productive and accounts for necessary rest. The time management skills you need are: prioritizing, delegating, problem solving, scheduling, goal setting, stress management, planning, and resource management. Any goal you set should follow the SMART goal rule: Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time bound. The goals you set should motivate you. They should be important to you there needs to be a value in accepting them. The Key to achieving any and all goals is motivation. Make your goals specific, make hem as clear of where you want to end up. Include as many details as you can asses yourself in the progress. Don’t set goals that are too easy or too hard, finding the right balance for yourself. The goal need to be relent goals to the end achievement you want. You also need to set clear concert deadlines,

In conclusion, cognitive control is more likely to be used when the emotional benefit outweighs the effort of completing the tasks. Cognitive control has three components, Attention allowing you to focus on the information, working memory allowing you to use the information on the task a hand, and time management the key to all your accomplishment along the way. Each working together to give you the tools to control your behavior when trying to achieve you goal for college.

Reference

  1. Vogel . (2020, October 16). Cognitive Control in an Age of Digital Distraction – Active Learning at King’s. Cognitive control in an age of digital distraction – Active Learning at King’s. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://blogs.kcl.ac.uk/activelearning/2020/10/16/digital-distraction/
  2. 8 Key Time Management Skills and How to Improve Them | Practice. (n.d.). 8 key time management skills and how to improve them | Practice. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://practice.do/blog/time-management-skills?utm_term=&utm_campaign=Practice+Pro&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9339619464&hsa_cam=19823709001&hsa_grp=150002634154&hsa_ad=651271705420&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=dsa-44794821923&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo7iiBhAEEiwAsIxQERL0CmRFjkBpEri3N8PjxUBRScafR67YAMIiB00agCaM-1ryIlegVxoC-qsQAvD_BwE
  3. I. (n.d.). Everything You Need to Know About Working Memory. Everything you need to know about working memory. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/everything-you-need-to-know-about-working-memory
  4. MindTools | Home. (n.d.). MindTools | Home. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.mindtools.com/a5g2h6s/golden-rules-of-goal-setting
  5. Cherry. (2022, November 10). What Attention Means in Psychology. Verywell Mind. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attention-2795009
  6. Mackie, M. A., Van Dam, N. T., & Fan, J. (2013, June 19). Cognitive Control and Attentional Functions. PubMed Central (PMC). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722267/
  7. Politakis, V. A., Ozimič, A. S., & Repovš, G. (2021, December 23). Cognitive Control Challenge Task Across the Lifespan. Frontiers. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.789816/full
  8. Dixon, M. L. (2015, June 2). Cognitive Control, Emotional Value, and the Lateral Prefrontal Cortex. PubMed Central (PMC). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4451239/
  9. Widge , s, Helibronner , R., & Hayden, Y. (2019, September 27). Prefrontal Cortex and Cognitive Control: New Insights From Human Electrophysiology – PubMed. PubMed. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31602292/
  10. Fan, J. (2014, August 14). An Information Theory Account of Cognitive Control. Frontiers. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00680/full