Final answer:
In individuals with frontal lobe lesions, cognitive functions such as planning, judgment, reasoning, and working memory are often impaired, which can lead to difficulties in controlling behavior based on environmental cues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals with frontal lobe lesions may experience difficulties in the area of environmental control of behavior due to deficits in various cognitive functions controlled by the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is crucial for planning, judgment, reasoning, and working memory. Damage to the prefrontal cortex can lead to changes in personality, mood, and behavior, as well as impair a person's ability to inhibit distracting thoughts and actions, affecting their capacity to direct behavior toward achieving a goal.While the question asks for four components under the subset known as environmental control of behavior, the provided reference material does not explicitly list four distinct components. However, the question seems to refer to the broader executive functions that are often impaired in people with frontal lobe lesions. These functions related to the environmental control of behavior may include:
- Planning and organization
- Regulating and inhibiting behavior in accordance with social norms
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Working memory and attention
Damage to the prefrontal cortex can also disrupt connections to other brain structures like the limbic system, which can further complicate emotional impulses control and disrupt environmental behavior control. Historical examples like the case of Phineas Gage and the practice of prefrontal lobectomy illustrate the role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling behavior.