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

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgment

The author wishes to thank Drs. Paula Williams, Timothy Smith, and Gordon J. Chelune for valuable feedback and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E., Rm. 502, Salt Lake, UT, USA

    Yana Suchy Ph.D.

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  1. Yana Suchy Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Yana Suchy Ph.D..

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Suchy, Y. Executive Functioning: Overview, Assessment, and Research Issues for Non-Neuropsychologists. ann. behav. med. 37, 106–116 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9097-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9097-4

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