The Assessment of Executive Functions in Cross-Cultural Context

Abstract

Regardless of the fact that neuropsychology is a relatively new field in psychology, cross-cultural neuropsychologists have shown a growing interest in assessment of executive functions and underlying basic cognitive processes of attention and perception across cultures. Initially, a brief overview of culture and characteristics of culture is presented. Then, five cultural factors are discussed which may likely affect cognitive test performance across different cultures. Also, differences in executive functioning test performance across individualistic and collectivistic cultures are analyzed. In the following section, assessment of basic cognitive functions, higher executive functions, and nonverbal abilities is reviewed across cultures. Finally, recent developments of neuropsychological assessment regarding test adaptation and test development in Asian countries have been discussed to conclude that there is a growing trend of neuropsychological test adaptation for local communities. Though few efforts have been seen regarding neuropsychological test construction in Asian countries, future Asian researchers are recommended to move from test adaptation toward test construction with a result of ecologically valid tests for local communities.