Inhibition, updating and shifting are the supposed construct components of executive function. But it seems that a better understanding of executive function is based on the understanding of the distinctions between executive function and non-executive function. Could someone suggest a good description of the distinctions?
Dear Liang! I will touch on in a reply only physiological executive functions.
Scientists identifies previously, and sometimes now, the executive and effector functions. To the knowledge of the mechanisms of executive functions, it was a false path. Why? I will give an example to answer. Consider the process of reducing the flexor and extensor muscles of the lower extremities, which provide executive act of walking. In a healthy person there is a smooth gait. A person with impaired brain function (eg, Parkinson's disease) observed ataxia (irregular gait). In this case the reason is violation of executive function in the brain (the skeletal muscles of the legs "not guilty").
So, what exactly is executive function? This function of the brain that control specific somatic, visceral or cognitive functions. In these parts of the brain analyzes the diverse information. This information is compared with information stored in the memory. Formed plan for future action in accordance with the generated motivation. Signals are sent to specific organs, which carry out planned action. From the authorities the information comes back to the brain that evaluate the effectiveness of the actions and make corrections if necessary.
By the way, in the assessment of cognitive executive functions primarily to study the structure of the frontal parts of the brain.
Hi Liang,
Great question! This is not easy to answer - there exists a wide variety of definitions and attempts at operationalizing the construct in the literature. Here are a few well-accepted definitions:
“those self-directed actions needed to choose goals and to create, enact, and sustain actions toward those goals” (Barkley, 2012)
“those capacities that enable a person to engage successfully in independent, purposive, self-directed, and self-serving behavior” (Lezak, 2012)
My personal favorite framework to delineate EFs is Diamond (2013), which I have attached. I believe that Diamond does an excellent job of articulating what EFs are in a concrete way, which allows you to also determine what they are not. I have also attached slides from a talk on EFs, which has a number of excellent references on the topic (including Barkley, 2012 and Lezak, 2012, both of which are books).
Good luck!
1. By your scheme, a non executive function would be anything that is automatic, or lower-order functions of the brain, such as sensing, reading after you know how to read, or basic categorization.
2. This also is developmentally relative. Young children - prior to about 6 - are more on "executive vs. non" track, because the triad you mention cannot be validated with this age. It is a global construct in other words. But for older ages, you actually can be better and worse at the different subconstructs, so a dichotomous concept is not as apporpriate. Hope this helps!
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