Executive control function: a review of its promise and challenges for clinical research. A report from the Committee on Research of the American Neuropsychiatric Association

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Fall;14(4):377-405. doi: 10.1176/jnp.14.4.377.

Abstract

This report reviews the state of the literature and opportunities for research related to "executive control function" (ECF). ECF has recently been separated from the specific cognitive domains (memory, language, and praxis) traditionally used to assess patients. ECF impairment has been associated with lesions to the frontal cortex and its basal ganglia-thalamic connections. No single putative ECF measure can yet serve as a "gold standard." This and other obstacles to assessment of ECF are reviewed. ECF impairment and related frontal system lesions and metabolic disturbances have been detected in many psychiatric and medical disorders and are strongly associated with functional outcomes, disability, and specific problem behaviors. The prevalence and severity of ECF deficits in many disorders remain to be determined, and treatment has been attempted in only a few disorders. Much more research in these areas is necessary.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Basal Ganglia / diagnostic imaging
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Dementia, Vascular / complications
  • Dementia, Vascular / diagnosis
  • Dementia, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / complications
  • Huntington Disease / diagnosis
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology
  • Interneurons / diagnostic imaging
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / complications
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Receptors, GABA / metabolism
  • Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology
  • Thalamus / diagnostic imaging
  • Thalamus / physiopathology
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Receptors, GABA
  • Receptors, Glutamate