Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

engagement

English answer:

involvement/interaction

Added to glossary by Diogo Garcia
May 1 20:10
14 days ago
56 viewers *
English term

engagement

English Social Sciences Psychology executive systems in the brain
Dear colleagues,
I find it difficult to understand the meaning of “engagement” in a table summarizing the functions of an executive system in the brain. The term “engagement” is listed together with “navigation” in this way:
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MAIN JOB (of the second executive system): NAVIGATION/ENGAGEMENT
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The second executive system is described as follows:

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The second executive system is organized within regions of the frontal and parietal lobes and the fiber bundles that connect them. This system is primarily responsible for navigating the environment, problem solving, and abstract reasoning. This is the system usually considered to govern executive functioning (although traditionally thought to be limited to the prefrontal cortex). During evolution, the frontal lobes became specialized to process timing, sequencing, and a memory for the future (remembering the consequences of current behavior). Meanwhile, the parietal lobes evolved to develop maps of external and internal space and to integrate these maps to use for spatial and imaginal navigation. It is in these frontal and parietal lobes that we find the mirror neurons that allow us to attune with and learn from others through imitation.
Together, the parietal and frontal lobes integrate to create our sense of space and time and navigate it with minimal conscious attention. When this system is damaged or disrupted, we experience difficulties in navigating space and disturbances in consciousness, functional abilities, and other executive functions. It is important to keep in mind that although we are able to talk about space and time separately, they are not divisible – none of us has ever experienced one without the other. The fact that the frontal and parietal lobes construct a unified space-time allows us to navigate them simultaneously and seamlessly. This is also the reason why somatic experience, somatic therapies, and sensory integration techniques can have a positive impact on intellectual, academic, and social functioning.

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What can “engagement” refer to in this context?
Thank you so much for your attention!
Change log

May 9, 2024 17:43: Diogo Garcia Created KOG entry

Discussion

haribert (asker) May 2:
Thank you so much, Darius, for your suggestion! I'll think about it!
haribert (asker) May 2:
Dear colleagues, first of all thank you so much for your help! I have only a little doubt: since this system is involved also in problem solving, might it be that "engagement" also mean "action"?
Might "engagement" have a double meaning: interaction with the environment and action through problem solving? Or would this be an "over-interpretation"?
Thank you again!

Responses

+4
12 mins
Selected

involvement/interaction

In this context, I believe engagement means interaction/involvement with one's environment, through a good perception of space and time. Imitation, mentioned in the text, is a form of interaction.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Diogo, for your contribution!
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
1 hr
agree Chantale Flentge
9 hrs
agree Shera Lyn Parpia
13 hrs
agree Darius Saczuk
14 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you so much, Diogo, for your valuable help! Many sincere thanks also to all other colleagues for their suggestions!"
20 hrs

reaction

This is what I understand from the text.
Hope it helps!
Note from asker:
Thank you very much, Susana, for your contribution!
Something went wrong...
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