A multiperspective approach to the conceptualization of executive functions

Abstract

The concept of executive function (EF) is deemed unclear and difficult to operationalize. We use a multiperspective approach to quantify and reduce the current proliferation of EFs. A literature review of 60 studies identified 68 subcomponents of EF: Through objective statistical techniques, these terms were reduced to 18 by removing semantic overlap (using latent semantic analysis) and psychometric overlap (using hierarchical cluster analysis). However, still such a large number of functions lacks parsimony. We therefore revisit the concept of EF and suggest that the many proposed subcomponents are not functions per se but rather a number of task-specific behaviors.

Keywords:

• Executive function
• Latent semantic analysis
• Hierarchical cluster analysis
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Cognitive processes

Acknowledgments

Helen M. Hodgetts is an honorary research fellow at School of Psychology, Cardiff University. This research was supported by an operating grant to Sébastien Tremblay and a graduate scholarship to Sonia Packwood from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Part of this work was presented at the International Congress of Psychology, Berlin, Germany (July, 2008). We would like to thank Daniel Lafond and Jean-François Gagnon for their significant help and suggestions with regard to the ideas proposed in this paper. We would also like to thank Cindy Chamberland for comments on an earlier draft and to Marie-Josée Côte for assistance with the analysis.