During the last 2 decades, major advances have been made in understanding the development of executive functions (EFs) in early childhood. This article reviews the EF literature during the preschool period using an integrative framework. The framework adopted considers EF to be a unitary construct with partially dissociable components (A. Miyake et al., 2000). The authors focus on 3 EF components: working memory, response inhibition, and shifting. For the present purposes, the central executive is conceived of as a central attention system that is involved in all EF component operations. Research to date suggests that elementary forms of the core EF components are present early during the preschool period. Changes in EF during the latter half of the preschool period appear to be due to the development of attention and integration of component EFs. Finally, the review outlines a number of areas that warrant further investigation if researchers are to move forward in understanding early EF development.

/pdf/executive-function-in-preschoolers-a-review-using-an-3igach2jp2.pdf

Executive function in preschoolers: A review using an integrative framework.

Until recently, gait was generally viewed as a largely automated motor task, requiring minimal higher-level cognitive input. Increasing evidence, however, links alterations in executive function and attention to gait disturbances. This review discusses the role of executive function and of attention in healthy walking and gait disorders while summarizing the relevant, recent literature. We describe the variety of gait disorders that may be associated with different aspects of executive function, and discuss the changes occurring in executive function as a result of aging and disease as well the potential impact of these changes on gait. The attentional demands of gait are often tested using dual tasking methodologies. Relevant studies in healthy adults and patients are presented, as are the possible mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of gait during dual tasking. Lastly, we suggest how assessments of executive function and attention could be applied in the clinical setting as part of the process of identifying and understanding gait disorders and fall risk.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/mds.21720

The role of executive function and attention in gait

Recent studies suggest that months to years of intensive and systematic meditation training can improve attention. However, the lengthy training required has made it difficult to use random assignment of participants to conditions to confirm these findings. This article shows that a group randomly assigned to 5 days of meditation practice with the integrative body-mind training method shows significantly better attention and control of stress than a similarly chosen control group given relaxation training. The training method comes from traditional Chinese medicine and incorporates aspects of other meditation and mindfulness training. Compared with the control group, the experimental group of 40 undergraduate Chinese students given 5 days of 20-min integrative training showed greater improvement in conflict scores on the Attention Network Test, lower anxiety, depression, anger, and fatigue, and higher vigor on the Profile of Mood States scale, a significant decrease in stress-related cortisol, and an increase in immunoreactivity. These results provide a convenient method for studying the influence of meditation training by using experimental and control methods similar to those used to test drugs or other interventions.

/pdf/short-term-meditation-training-improves-attention-and-self-4whulnbx1j.pdf

Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation

Attention training and attention state training

Background. The factors that contribute to the dual tasking (DT) changes in performance that occur when older adults walk while simultaneously performing other tasks are not well known. We hypothesized that cognitive and motor reserve (e.g., executive function [EF], postural control, and walking abilities) and affect (e.g., anxiety, depressive symptoms) influence the DT decrements (DTDs) in gait. Methods. Two hundred twenty-eight community-living, healthy older adults (mean: 76.2 6 4.2 years; 59% women) walked with and without DT, for example, subtracting 7s and phoneme monitoring. Mobility (e.g., the Dynamic Gait Index), cognitive function (e.g., memory, EF), and affect (e.g., Geriatric Depression Scale) were quantified. Bivariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with the DTD in gait speed (a general measure of locomotor function), swing time, (reflecting balance during gait), and swing time variability (a measure of stride-to-stride consistency). Results. Gait speed and swing time decreased (p , .001) and swing time variability increased (became worse) (p , .001) during all DTs. The DTD in gait speed was correlated with comfortable walking gait speed, but not with tests of mobility or cognitive function. The DTD in swing time variability was correlated with EF, mobility, and affect (e.g., depressive symptoms). Much of the variance in the DTDs was unexplained. Conclusions. Usual walking abilities and cognitive function contribute to the DT effects on gait, but these relationships depend on specifics of the DT, the gait feature being studied, and the particulars of the cognitive domain. Meeting the everyday challenges of walking while dual tasking apparently relies on multiple factors including a consistent gait pattern and EF.

/pdf/dual-task-decrements-in-gait-contributing-factors-among-2ue5w7sj42.pdf

Dual-Task Decrements in Gait: Contributing Factors Among Healthy Older Adults

2006 Special Issue: Analyzing and shaping human attentional networks

Functional MRI of attention and language in adolescent chronic marijuana abuse

Neuroimaging provides a method to locate areas of the brain activity when organisms perceive or respond to sensory events or carry out a wide variety of tasks. The methods have made it possible to examine where in the brain cognitive and emotional systems are located, thus providing new approaches to understanding normal and pathological human information processing.


Keywords:

neuroimaging;
human brain;
cognitive functions;
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI);
positron emission tomography (PET)

Yalçin Odludaş

Papers

2006 Special Issue: Analyzing and shaping human attentional networks

Functional MRI of attention and language in adolescent chronic marijuana abuse

Brain Imaging: Localization of Brain Functions