Executive Functioning: Overview, Assessment, and Research Issues for Non-Neuropsychologists

• Published in: Annals of behavioral medicine Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 106 - 116
• Main Author: Suchy, Yana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01-04-2009; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Behavioral Medicine - methods; Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Cognition - physiology; Family Medicine; General Practice; Health Psychology; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuropsychological Tests; Original Article; Problem Solving; R&D; Research & development; Set (Psychology); Cognition; Frontal lobes; Neuropsychological assessment; Executive functioning; Frontal-lobe syndrome
• ISSN: 0883-6612; 1532-4796
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-009-9097-4

Background
Executive functioning (EF) is a multifaceted neuropsychological construct that can be defined as (1) forming, (2) maintaining, and (3) shifting mental sets, corresponding to the abilities to (1) reason and generate goals and plans, (2) maintain focus and motivation to follow through with goals and plans, and (3) flexibly alter goals and plans in response to changing contingencies.
Purpose
Research involving EF has become increasingly popular in a number of disciplines including behavioral medicine and personality research.
Methods
The present article outlines some of the challenges faced by EF researchers, as well as briefly reviews historical perspective and neuroanatomical underpinnings of EF to provide broader context.
Results
Clinical presentations of EF deficits, definitions and operationalization of the contsruct, as well as selection of appropriate assessment methods are provided.
Conclusion
The article concludes with general cautions and guidelines for researchers.