Core Executive Functions Research Articles

Parsing Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with Individual Connectome Mapping.

Traditional diagnostic systems for neurodevelopmental disorders define diagnostic categories that are heterogeneous in behavior and underlying neurobiological alterations. The goal of this study was to parse heterogeneity in a core executive function (EF), cognitive flexibility, in children with a range of abilities (N = 132; children with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], and typically developing children) using directed functional connectivity profiles derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Brain regions activated in response to a cognitive flexibility task in adults were used to guide region-of-interest selection to estimate individual connectivity profiles in this study. We expected to find subgroups of children who differed in their network connectivity metrics and symptom measures. Unexpectedly, we did not find a stable or valid subgrouping solution, which suggests that categorical models of the neural substrates of cognitive flexibility in children may be invalid. Exploratory analyses revealed dimensional associations between network connectivity metrics and ADHD symptomatology and EF ability across the entire sample. Results shed light on the validity of conceptualizing the neural substrates of cognitive flexibility categorically in children. Ultimately, this work may provide a foundation for the development of a revised nosology focused on neurobiological substrates as an alternative to traditional symptom-based classification systems.

Schoolchildren's Compensatory Strategies and Skills in Relation to Attention and Executive Function App Training.

BackgroundGiven the importance of attention and executive functions (EF) in children’s behavior, programs aimed at improving these processes are of special interest. Nexxo-training combines the use of the Nexxo touchscreen application (inhibition and vigilance tasks) with procedural metacognitive strategies (imparted by an instructor) for all the individuals using the app, regardless of their level of ability, plus compensatory strategies based on individual child performance. This study presents an analysis of the compensatory strategies that schoolchildren (aged 6–8 years old) receive when experiencing difficulties with EF tasks, in addition to an analysis of the developmental factors and cognitive skills that may modulate EF task performance.MethodsFor this study, we use data from a previous randomized active-controlled study (under review), in which forty-six typically developing children aged between 6 and 8 years old (24 girls/22 boys) were enrolled in the training group. The selected children were in the 1st grade (n = 28, = 78.32 ± 4.037 months) and 3rd grade of primary education (n = 18, = 102.11 ± 3.445). We collected data on EF training performance, compensatory strategies needed and neuropsychological assessments.ResultsA total of 80.43% participants required some form of compensatory strategy during training. Regarding required compensatory strategies, those who had lower scores in EF training needed more compensatory strategies, in particular, instructional comprehension (r = −0.561, p < 0.001 for inhibition-tasks; r = −0.342, p < 0.001 for vigilance-tasks). Concerning developmental factors, age significantly predicted better performance in both EF tasks (β = 0.613, p < 0.001 for inhibition; β = 0.706, p < 0.001 for attention). As regards task performance, those with better performance in inhibition tasks also had better performance in vigilance tasks (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Finally, regarding cognitive skills, participants with higher performance in fluid intelligence (Q1, n = 12) had higher scores (U = 14.5, p < 0.05) than the group with the lowest performance (Q4, n = 11) in vigilance.ConclusionAs previous literature suggests, inhibition is one of the core processes of EF. Therefore, we should focus training on the core EF processes. Inhibition and vigilance are closely related processes. In terms of the use of compensatory strategies, these are more needed for participants with lower levels of performance in inhibition or vigilance. Regarding strategy analysis, instructional comprehension and self-instruction (goal setting and planning) seem to be the most useful strategies for those with difficulties in inhibitory and vigilance task performance. Regarding development, as expected, age moderates task performance in inhibition and attention. Finally, cognitive skills, such as fluid intelligence and cognitive flexibility, predicted better results in attention. EF training using not only an app, but also compensatory strategies based on user performance, is a new research direction offering more opportunities to generalize EF training in everyday life.

Association among Executive Function, Physical Activity, and Weight Status in Youth.

Background and objectives: Executive function (EF) is an umbrella term that encompasses the set of higher-order processes. Core EFs are inhibition, interference control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The aim of the study was to compare the EF between normal weight (NW) and inactive overweight (OW), NW and sport trained (ST), ST and OW 16–19-year-old youths. In addition, the relationship between EF and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was evaluated. Materials and Methods: 10 NW, 14 ST, and 10 OW youths participated in this study. EF was evaluated using the ANAM4 battery. VO2peak was measured during an increasing walking exercise (modified Balke test). Results: The NW youths demonstrated better visual tracking and attention (94.28% ± 3.11%/90.23% ± 2.01%), response inhibition (95.65% ± 1.83%/92.48% ± 1.05%), speed of processing, and alternating attention with a motor speed component (95.5% ± 3.51%/89.01% ± 4.09%) than the OW youths (p < 0.05). The ST youths demonstrated better visual tracking and attention (96.76% ± 1.85%/90.23% ± 2.01%), response inhibition (97.58% ± 0.94%/92.48% ± 1.05%), speed of processing, and alternating attention with a motor speed component (98.35% ± 1.35%/89.01% ± 4.09%) than the OW youths (p < 0.05). The ST youths demonstrated better EF results than NW youths (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The ST 16–19-year-old youths demonstrated better EF than their OW and NW peers. The NW youths demonstrated better EF than their OW peers. There was a significant correlation between VO2peak and EF indicators in all groups of participants.

7.3 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR ASD: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

The goal of this session is to review the latest evidence for behavioral interventions in ASD, including early intensive behavioral intervention, the Early-Start Denver Model, applied behavioral analysis, joint attention symbolic play engagement regulation, pivotal response training group, social skills training, and CBT. This presentation also aims to review the emerging integration of technology into behavioral therapies for ASD core symptoms, executive functioning, and emotion regulation.

The Cognitive Effects of Experiencing and Observing Subtle Racial Discrimination

AbstractMost research on the cognitive effects of subtle racial discrimination among racial and ethnic minorities focuses on direct experiences of it wherein stigmatized individuals are the targets of discriminatory treatment. However, it is not necessary for people to be the direct target of discriminatory behavior to experience the negative consequences associated with it. Although exposure to discriminatory behavior is increasingly common given the accessibility of smartphones and social media, we know relatively little about how this exposure affects people's executive functioning. Here, we provide a systematic, comparative review of the extant literature on the effects of (a) personally experiencing versus (b) observing instances of subtle racial discrimination toward others on three core executive functions: inhibition, shifting, and updating. We highlight where more work is needed to understand the cognitive consequences of observing discrimination and we provide initial evidence that observing subtle discrimination impairs updating—a previously unexplored relationship. Finally, we discuss the implications of executive function impairment due to observing and experiencing subtle discrimination for long‐term outcomes, such as academic achievement, employment, and mental health.

Inhibitory Control in Excessive Social Networking Users: Evidence From an Event-Related Potential-Based Go-Nogo Task.

Inhibitory control is a core executive function module that monitors and suppresses inappropriate behavior. Inhibitory deficits have been observed in different addiction types (e.g., smoking, alcohol, drug and gambling). The excessive use of social networking sites (SNSs) has attracted increasing attention; however, it is unknown whether inhibitory control is impaired in excessive SNS users. This study used event-related potentials in an SNS-related Go-Nogo task to investigate inhibitory control in excessive SNS users. Although the behavioral data did not show any significant differences between groups, the N1 amplitude was larger following SNS images than control images in excessive SNS users. Furthermore, excessive users showed larger N2 amplitude and smaller Nogo-P3 amplitude than non-excessive users irrespective of stimuli. These findings suggested that excessive SNS users are inefficient in allocating monitoring resources in the Go-Nogo task (reflected by enhance N2) and show difficulty in late inhibitory control procedure (reflected by reduced Nogo-P3) compared to non-excessive users. Also, excessive SNS users pay more attention to SNS-related images compared to non-SNS-related images (reflected by the N1). Interventions for this specific population should focus on limiting exposure to SNS cues and enhancing inhibitory control.

Enhanced decision-making through multimodal training

A central aim of research in the psychological and decision sciences is to establish interventions that enhance performance, investigating the efficacy of modern approaches to improve human inference and decision-making. Whereas the decision sciences have established interventions to reduce decision biases by promoting strategies for critical thought and reasoning, methods from psychology have instead focused on enhancing cognition through skill-based training of executive functions. Contemporary research in psychology has engaged these operations through multi-modal interventions designed to enhance cognition and physical health through training of executive functions, mindfulness meditation, and physical fitness. Despite the comparable aims of research in the psychological and decision sciences, the efficacy of multi-modal interventions to enhance decision-making remain to be established. We therefore conducted a comprehensive, 16-week, randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate this issue, enrolling 160 healthy adults in one of four interventions: (1) high-intensity cardioresistance fitness training (HICRT); (2) HICRT and cognitive training of core executive functions; (3) HICRT and cognitive training, along with mindfulness meditation training; or (4) active control training. The results of our RCT demonstrate that HICRT training and multi-modal interventions that also incorporate cognitive training and mindfulness meditation have beneficial effects on decision-making competence. The observed pattern of findings motivate the application of modern interventions from psychology and cognitive neuroscience to enhance human judgment and decision-making in complex, real-world environments.

Chimpanzees flexibly update working memory contents and show susceptibility to distraction in the self-ordered search task.

Working memory (WM) is a core executive function that allows individuals to hold, process and manipulate information. WM capacity has been repeatedly nominated as a key factor in human cognitive evolution; nevertheless, little is known about the WM abilities of our closest primate relatives. In this study, we examined signatures of WM ability in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Standard WM tasks for humans (Homo sapiens) often require participants to continuously update their WM. In Experiment 1, we implemented this updating requirement in a foraging situation: zoo-housed chimpanzees (n = 13) searched for food in an array of containers. To avoid redundant searches, they needed to continuously update which containers they had already visited (similar to WM paradigms for human children) with 15 s retention intervals in between each choice. We examined chimpanzees' WM capacity and to what extent they used spatial cues and object features to memorize their previous choices. In Experiment 2, we investigated how susceptible their WM was to attentional interference, an important signature, setting WM in humans apart from long-term memory. We found large individual differences with some individuals remembering at least their last four choices. Chimpanzees used a combination of spatial cues and object features to remember which boxes they had chosen already. Moreover, their performance decreased specifically when competing memory information was introduced. Finally, we found that individual differences in task performance were highly reliable over time. Together, these findings show remarkable similarities between human and chimpanzee WM abilities despite evolutionary and life-history differences.

Immediate and long-term efficacy of executive functions cognitive training in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There has been growing interest in enhancing cognition in older adulthood via computerized cognitive training (CCT), though, there is controversy surrounding the efficacy of CCT in promoting improvements to functional everyday activities. As core executive-functions (EFs)-cognitive-flexibility, inhibition, working memory-are applicable to most aspects of daily living, CCT targeting these processes would likely promote gains on trained tasks, and potentially on similar untrained tasks (near-transfer), and general cognitive performance (far-transfer). We report two meta-analyses investigating the immediate (pretest to posttest) and long-term efficacy (pretest to follow-up) of core-EF CCT in improving cognition among older adults. Sixty-four studies (encompassing 3,594 participants) included an eligible CCT intervention targeting at least 1 core-EF (e.g., working memory training). Both immediate and long-term efficacy analyses revealed significant, large training effects for trained outcomes, and significant, small training effects for near-transfer and far-transfer outcomes. When comparing the same studies, effect sizes from immediate and long-term efficacy analyses were comparable, suggesting that CCT gains were maintained over time. Further analyses of immediate efficacy revealed significant, small training effects for performance on executive functioning, fluid intelligence, memory, and visuospatial domains, but not for attention or processing speed. After adjusting for publication bias, the training effect for fluid intelligence was nonsignificant, whereas processing speed was significant. It is recommended that future studies employ adaptive multidomain training as these studies were shown to produce significant training effects at each transfer level. Overall, core-EF CCT interventions show promise in promoting immediate and long-term improvements in cognitive performance among older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Limited Benefit of Sleep Extension on Cognitive Deficits During Total Sleep Deprivation: Illustration With Two Executive Processes.

Introduction: Sleep extension has been associated with better alertness and sustained attention capacities before, during and after sleep loss. However, less is known about such beneficial effect on executive functions (EFs). Our aim was to investigate such effects on two EFs (i.e., inhibition and working memory) for subjects submitted to total sleep deprivation and one-night of recovery.Methods: Fourteen healthy men (26–37 years old) participated in an experimental cross-over design with two conditions: extended sleep (EXT, 9.8 ± 0.1 h of Time In Bed, TIB) and habitual sleep (HAB, 8.2 ± 0.1 h TIB). During these two conditions subjects underwent two consecutive phases: Six nights of either EXT or HAB followed by 3 days in-laboratory: baseline (BASE), TSD (38 h) and after recovery (REC). EFs capacities were assessed through Go-NoGo (inhibition) and 2N-Back (working memory) tasks. Both EFs capacities were measured at different time (BASE/TSD/REC: 09:30, 13:00, 16:00; TSD: 21:00, 00:00, 03:00, 06:30).Results: In both conditions (HAB and EXT), TSD was associated with deficits in inhibition (higher errors and mean reaction time from TSD 09:30 until the end; p < 0.05) and working memory (lower corrects responses from TSD 06:30 or 09:30; p < 0.05). We observed no significant differences between HAB and EXT conditions on EFs capacities during BASE, TSD, and REC periods.Conclusion: Six nights of sleep extension is neither efficient to reduce core EFs deficits related to TSD nor to improve such capacities after a recovery night. These results highlight that sleep extension (six nights of 10 h of TIB) is not effective to limit EFs deficits related to TSD suggesting a disconnection inside cognition between executive and sustained attention processes. Clinical Trials: NCT02352272.

Investigating the Effect of a High Fat Meal and Prolonged Sitting on Executive Function: A Pilot Study

Prolonged periods of sitting have been shown to reduce cerebral blood flow and autoregulation, which may subsequently impair executive function. Similarly, the consumption of a high-fat diet can negatively impact cerebral perfusion. However, whether prolonged sitting combined with a high fat meal additionally impairs both executive function and cerebral perfusion is unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of consuming a high-fat meal followed by 3 hours of prolonged sitting on executive function and cerebral perfusion. METHODS: Five young healthy males (Age: 22.8 ± 2.9 yrs; stature 177.7 ± 6.4 cm; mass 78.9 ± 14.3 kg), from a target of 18, were recruited. Following familiarisation, participants completed two randomised sessions of 3 hours of prolonged sitting following the consumption of a high-fat (HF) and low-fat (LF) meal. Each visit was separated by a minimum of 2 and maximum of 7 days. Participants completed a Stroop test (containing both congruent and incongruent trials) and trail-making test (TMT) both pre- and post- sitting period. The TMT consists of two parts, A and B. Continuous wave near-infrared spectroscopy (cw-NIRS) was used to measure cerebral perfusion at AF4 both before (baseline) and throughout each trial. Data was analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Alpha was set at P < 0.1 a priori for preliminary analyses. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between or within trials for completion time for Stroop and TMT part A. Completion time for TMT part B was significantly (p = 0.078, d = 2.2) faster in the low-fat condition compared to HF condition (16.4 ± 4 s vs. 21.6 ± 0.7 s). There were no significant differences in cerebral perfusion between or within groups (p = 0.201). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that the consumption of a high-fat meal may negatively impact core executive functions measured by TMT Part B, namely working memory and task-switching ability. However, cerebral perfusion, as measured by cw-NIRS, failed to identify a mechanism. This may be a consequence of limited statistical power given the sample size, or uncertainties regarding the sensitivity of cw-NIRS when measuring cerebral perfusion.

The effect of exergaming on executive functions in children with ADHD: A randomized clinical trial.

Children with ADHD frequently suffer from deficits in cognitive (ie, executive functions) and motor abilities. Although medication usually has a positive effect, a lack of commitment and possible side effects result in a need for adjunct or alternative treatments. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of cognitively and physically demanding exergaming on executive functions, ADHD symptoms, and motor abilities. In a parallel group randomized trial, 51 children between 8-12years (M=10.63; SD=1.32) diagnosed with ADHD were assigned either to an 8-week exergame intervention group (three training sessions per week for 30minutes) or a waiting-list control group. The core executive functions (inhibition, switching, updating), parent ratings of symptoms, and motor abilities were assessed/gathered before and after the intervention. Analyses of covariance (using pre-test values as covariates) revealed that children in the exergame intervention group improved in specific executive functions (reaction times in inhibition and switching), general psychopathology as well as motor abilities compared to control group. Findings indicate that exergaming might benefit two domains in which frequent deficits can be observed in children with ADHD, executive functions and motor abilities. Given that these beneficial effects in turn might positively affect psychopathology, exergaming could serve as an individualized home-based intervention in the future. However, in order to maximize benefits and make exergaming a valuable adjunct to treatment for children with ADHD, customized exergames are needed.

An inverse relationship between cortical plasticity and cognitive inhibition in late-life depression.

Executive dysfunction is a common and disabling component of late-life depression (LLD), yet its neural mechanisms remain unclear. In particular, it is not yet known how executive functioning in LLD relates to measures of cortical physiology that may change with age and illness, namely cortical inhibition/excitation and plasticity. Here, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure cortical inhibition/excitation (n = 51), and the potentiation of cortical activity following paired associative stimulation, which is thought to reflect long-term potentiation (LTP)-like cortical plasticity (n = 32). We assessed the correlation between these measures of cortical physiology and two measures of executive functioning: cognitive inhibition, assessed using the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Color-Word Interference ["Stroop"] Test, and cognitive flexibility, assessed using the Trail Making Test. Correlations with recall memory and processing speed were also performed to assess the specificity of any associations to executive functioning. A significant correlation was found between greater LTP-like cortical plasticity and poorer cognitive inhibition, a core executive function (rp = -0.56, p < 0.001). We did not observe significant associations between cortical inhibition/excitation and executive functioning, or between any neurophysiological measure and cognitive flexibility, memory, or processing speed. Our finding that elevated cortical plasticity is associated with diminished cognitive inhibition emphasizes the importance of balanced synaptic strengthening to healthy cognition. More specifically, our findings suggest that hyper-excitability of cortical circuits following repeated cortical activation may promote inappropriate prepotent responses in LLD. LTP-like cortical plasticity might therefore represent a neural mechanism underlying an inhibitory control cognitive endophenotype of LLD.

Active Commuting to and from School, Cognitive Performance, and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Background: Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the brain’s development process and cognitive function. However, no review to date has evaluated the effects of active commuting to and from school (ACS) on cognitive performance and academic achievement. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the link between ACS and cognitive performance and academic achievement in children and adolescents. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases for all observational studies published until May 2019 that examined the association between ACS and cognitive performance or academic achievement. Studies were classified into two groups according to their measured outcomes: cognitive performance (nonexecutive cognitive functions, core executive functions, and metacognition) and academic achievement (marks of different areas). A pooled effect size (ES) was estimated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects method for cognitive performance and each area of academic achievement. Results: Twelve studies that evaluated the relationship between ACS and cognitive performance or academic achievement were included in the systematic review: four studies analyzed both cognitive performance and academic achievement, one study provided data regarding cognitive performance and seven provided data on academic achievement. Finally, nine of 12 studies provided enough data for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that ACS was not significantly associated with cognitive performance (ES = −0.02; 95% CI: −0.06 to 0.03) or academic achievement (ES = −0.33; 95% CI: −0.83 to 0.17 for mathematics-related skills; ES = −0.37; 95% CI: −0.88 to 0.15 for language-related skills). Conclusions: There was insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between ACS and cognitive performance and academic achievement. Future studies should include potential confounders in their analyses and consider the use of standardized self-reports or objective measures of ACS.

Do children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have set shifting deficits?

Set shifting, or cognitive flexibility, is a core executive function involving the ability to quickly and efficiently shift back and forth between mental sets. Meta-analysis suggests medium-magnitude shifting impairments in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, this conclusion may be premature because the evidence-base relies exclusively on tasks that have been criticized for poor construct validity and may better reflect general neuropsychological functioning rather than shifting specifically. A well-characterized sample of 77 children ages 8-13 (M = 10.46, SD = 1.54; 32 girls; 66% Caucasian/non-Hispanic) with ADHD (n = 43) and without ADHD (n = 34) completed the criterion global-local set shifting task and 2 counterbalanced control tasks that were identical in all aspects except the key processes. The experimental manipulation was successful at evoking set shifting demands during the global-local versus both nonshift control tasks (p < .001; ω2 = .12-.14). Mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed that the ADHD group did not demonstrate disproportional decrements in speed shift costs on the shifting versus nonshift control tasks (p = .30; ω2 = .002), suggesting no evidence of impaired set shifting abilities in ADHD. In contrast, the ADHD group made disproportionately more shifting errors than the non-ADHD group (p = .03; ω2 = 0.03) that were more parsimoniously attributable to prerequisite (nonshifting) processes necessary for successful performance on the global-local task. Children with ADHD's impaired performance on shifting tasks may be attributable to difficulties maintaining competing rule sets and/or inhibiting currently active rule sets prior to shifting. However, when these higher-order processes are executed successfully, there is no significant evidence to suggest a unique set shifting deficit in ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Allostatic load and executive functions in overweight adults

Background/objectiveOverweight is linked to inflammatory and neuroendocrine responses potentially prompting deregulations in biological systems harmful to the brain, particularly to the prefrontal cortex. This structure is crucial for executive performance, ultimately supervising behaviour. Thus, in the present work, we aimed to test the relationship between allostatic load increase, a surrogate of chronic physiological stress, and core executive functions, such as cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory. MethodForty-seven healthy-weight and 56 overweight volunteers aged from 21 to 40 underwent medical and neuropsychological examination. ResultsOverweight subjects exhibited a greater allostatic load index than healthy-weight individuals. Moreover, the allostatic load index was negatively related to inhibitory control. When separated, the link between allostatic load index and cognitive flexibility was more marked in the overweight group. ConclusionsAn overweight status was linked to chronic physiological stress. The inverse relationship between the allostatic load index and cognitive flexibility proved stronger in this group. Set-shifting alterations could sustain rigid-like behaviours and attitudes towards food.

More than an "inverted-U"? An exploratory study of the association between the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and executive functions in Parkinson's disease.

Executive dysfunction is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been proposed to affect executive functions (EFs) in the prefrontal cortex. The present study attempted to explore the influence of the COMT polymorphism on EFs in patients with PD. Fifty-four PD patients were recruited and underwent neuropsychological assessments for three core EFs. The COMT polymorphism was genotyped using the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay. Participants were divided into three study groups: Val homozygotes, heterozygotes, and Met homozygotes. The three COMT genotype groups had significantly different performances in set-shifting [χ2 (2, 54) = 9.717, p = 0.008] and working memory tasks [χ2 (2, 54) = 7.806, p = 0.020]. Post-hoc analyses revealed that PD Val homozygotes performed significantly poorer in the set-shifting task than did either the PD Met homozygotes (z = -2.628, p = 0.009) or PD heterozygotes (z = -2.212, p = 0.027). Our explorative results suggest that the putative level of prefrontal dopamine influenced set-shifting through a “cane-shaped” dopamine level-response relationship. Our results have clinical implications, which may influence PD treatment with dopamine in the future because the optimal dopamine level to maximize EFs may vary based on the clinical course and COMT polymorphism status. Further study recruiting a larger number of participants is needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

How executive functions are associated with event-based and time-based prospective memory during childhood

A key developmental task of childhood is to gain autonomy and independence from parents and caregivers. Critical to this individualization process is the development of prospective memory (PM), the capacity to remember to carry out future intentions. In recent studies, children's PM performance has been associated with executive functions (EF). A closer inspection of the literature, however, suggests a differential impact of the three EF (updating, inhibition, and shifting) across different PM task types. The current study examined EF and PM capacities of 212 6- to 11-year-old children, examining for the first time both focal and nonfocal event-based PM tasks as well as a time-based PM task in a single sample. Results show that age-differences did not persist above and beyond age differences in children's executive resources. Specifically, updating predicted children's performance on all PM tasks, inhibition predicted performance on both event-based PM tasks, whereas shifting was specifically deployed by the nonfocal event-based task. Supplementary analyses of the time-based PM task illustrate how children monitor the progression of time and how preparatory processes support PM task performance. In sum, the current study presents the first comprehensive look at the specific role of age and three core EF in school-aged children's PM performance.

Relating mindfulness and executive function in children.

Despite the important role of cognitions in mindful awareness, research on the cognitive processes underlying mindfulness in young populations is scarce. This study explores the association between the core executive functions (i.e. inhibition, working memory, and shifting) and mindfulness within the same model in a sample of children. Seventy-two parent-child dyads participated in the study. Difficulties with executive functioning and child mindfulness level were assessed. Inhibition, working memory, and shifting were significantly correlated with mindfulness. Furthermore, moderate to good fit was found in a model testing the association between mindfulness and the latent executive function variable composed by the three executive functions, and individual executive functions demonstrated significant loadings in relation to the latent variable. In a model relating mindfulness to each individual executive function, mindfulness was uniquely associated with inhibition, working memory, and shifting. The application of current theoretical models of mindfulness to child populations and clinical implications are discussed.

Impact of Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy on Executive Function: A Narrative Review.

Substance use disorders are chronic, relapsing, and harmful conditions characterized by executive dysfunction. While there are currently no approved pharmacotherapy options for stimulant and cannabis use disorders, there are several evidence-based options available to help reduce symptoms during detoxification and aid long-term cessation for those with tobacco, alcohol and opioid use disorders. While these medication options have shown clinical efficacy, less is known regarding their potential to enhance executive function. This narrative review aims to provide a brief overview of research that has investigated whether commonly used pharmacotherapies for these substance use disorders (nicotine, bupropion, varenicline, disulfiram, acamprosate, nalmefene, naltrexone, methadone, buprenorphine, and lofexidine) effect three core executive function components (working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility). While pharmacotherapy-induced enhancement of executive function may improve cessation outcomes in dependent populations, there are limited and inconsistent findings regarding the effects of these medications on executive function. We discuss possible reasons for the mixed findings and suggest some future avenues of work that may enhance the understanding of addiction pharmacotherapy and cognitive training interventions and lead to improved patient outcomes.