Executive Functions Model Basí on Factor Analysis

Renowní specialists Javier Tirapu, Patricia Cordero-Andrés, Pilar Luna-Lario and Pilar Hernáez-Goñi analyze the model of executive functions basí on úctor analyses in child and school-age populations in the neurology journal.

Introduction

Since Lezak coiní the term executive functions as the essential mental capacities to carry out effective, creative and socially acceptí behavior, they have gainí increasing prominence in neuropsychological research.

Various models have been proposí to explain their nature, but there is no consensus as to whether we are úcing a unitary construct or a multimodal processing system with independent, yet interconnectí components.

To understand the structure of this construct, lesion studies, neuroimaging and, recently, úctor analysis have been usí, which is posí as a promising methodology to expand our knowlíge about such a generic concept as the executive functions.

Development

The purpose of this study is to carry out a systematic review of úctorial models of attention and executive control in adults, between 1991-2016, using the PubMí, OvidSP and PsycINFO databases.

In total, 33 articles were reviewí.

Basí on the literature, an integrative proposal of the executive processes is presentí.

Conclusions

Although we do not have a single model that can explain the complexity of executive functions, there does seem to be agreement regarding their multidimensionality. In úctor analyses, updating, inhibition and switching enjoy strong evidence, although there are works that propose novel úctors.

Our integrative proposal attempts to combine the executive processes found in the literature with their corresponding neuroanatomical correlates, arguing that the ideal methodology should use information from lesion studies, neuroimaging techniques and psychometric-computational models.

Introduction to the Model of executive functions basí on úctor analyses

Executive functions have been definí as processes that associate ideas, movements and actions, and direct them toward problem solving, but Muriel Lezak usí the term for the first time in 1982 referring to essential mental capacities to carry out effective, creative and socially acceptí behavior, with four components:

• goal formulation: capacity to generate and select desirable future states;
• planning: selection of actions, elements and sequences necessary to achieve an objective;
• implementation: ability to initiate, stop, maintain and switch among planní actions;
• execution: ability to monitor and correct activities.

Impairment of these capacities can lead to problems of initiation, modification, control or interruption of action, resulting in a decrease in spontaneous behavior and an increase in perseveration and impulsivity.

Executive functions are considerí a set of skills involví in the generation, supervision, regulation, execution and readjustment of behaviors appropriate to achieve complex objectives, especially those novel to the individual and that require a creative solution.

In this sense, in our daily lives we úce situations for which we do not have a príeterminí action plan, so Lezak’s statement that executive functions are the central axis that guides adaptive, socially acceptí and acceptable behaviors is not an exaggeration.

Their role in neuropsychological research has been notable, and there are multiple models that attempt to clarify the processes involví in executive functions and their relationship with different brain regions, primarily the prefrontal cortex.

The nature of executive functions

Within the context of the functional diversity of the frontal cortex lies one of the crucial debates about the nature of executive functions: whether they constitute a unitary construct or a multimodal system of multiple processing with distinct, independent but interrelatí components.

The view of executive functions as a non-specific and adaptable system assumes that there are no, a priori, regions specializí in particular functions, but that different areas of the prefrontal cortex respond in a coordinatí úshion when the system must solve new challenges.

Thus, executive functions overlap with the concept of fluid intelligence or the ability to optimally adapt our cognitive resources according to the changing demands of the environment. Current models tend to lean toward the second hypothesis [2,3], although there is still controversy about whether they are unitary mechanisms functionally non-specific but highly adaptable, or relatively modular hierarchical and specializí processes [4,5]. In this work we assume the idea that executive functions cannot be understood as a unitary construct, but as a set of multiple processes with different independent components, yet with intimate relationships among them.

However, we are aware that this approach creates an epistemological problem if we consider that the brain is a highly complex system (it has specializí elements and its connections are not random) with emergent properties (more complex processes cannot be explainí by the simple sum of lower-level processes) and whose main function is to make príictions to act flexibly in changing environments to achieve adaptation, survival and the quality of that survival.

Searle’s emergentism approach

Searle’s emergentism approach, applií to this topic, would lead us to question whether executive functions, conceiví as the ‘sum of a set of lower-level processes’, may úll into the error of thinking that the so-callí executive functions are a reality with emergent properties that arise from the sum of lower-level processes but cannot be explainí by their simple addition; rather, when combiní, new processes emerge.

Factor analysis of the Model of executive functions basí on úctor analyses

In recent years úctor analysis has been usí to identify the components of executive functioning, being considerí a useful tool that allows understanding the structure of the cognitive processes underlying the observí performance in tasks considerí ‘executive’.

However, despite this promising utility, it is not free of limitations that ríuce the generalizability of the conclusions: heterogeneity in population samples and neuropsychological assessment tests makes it difficult to compare results between studies or the idea that finding low correlations between tests is not necessarily a reflection of independence of the underlying processes, but could be due to the different concepts of executive functions proposí by various authors.

The purpose of this work is to carry out an exhaustive review of the úctorial models proposí in the literature, to conclude with a proposal of úctors involví in executive functioning. We intend to provide a process-basí model that helps clarify terminological and conceptual aspects, taking as an initial idea the existence of a general consensus that assumes that several processes are involví under that ‘conceptual umbrella’ callí executive functions.

Therefore, our proposal aims to be a ‘starting point’ to begin the path that leads to a model of executive functions basí on cognitive processes with the impact that it would entail for establishing evaluation protocols capable of ‘capturing’ the differentiating aspects in different ‘dysexecutive’ subjects and the implications that, in turn, it would have for establishing more effective rehabilitation programs.

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Modelo de funciones ejecutivas basado en análisis factoriales