EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN - INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL SERIES

The six articles in this series address different aspects of cognitive skills and behavioral functioning commonly described as executive fun ctions. These functions actually represent several aspects of cognitio n, including the allocation of cognitive resources, planning, problem solving, response inhibition, self-monitoring and regulation, and the maintenance of mental sets. Executive functions are prominent componen ts of the construct of working memory (Pennington, 1994). In developme ntal psychology, executive functions are typically subserved under the rubric of metacognition. In cognitive neuroscience, models of attenti on and memory make liberal use of constructs described in this special issue under executive functions. Historically, neuropsychology has vi ewed executive functions as virtually interchangeable with the functio ns of the frontal lobes.