Executive Functions: Current Concepts, Clinical Diagnosis, and Future Prospects
- Authors: Popova P.S.1, Khrulev A.E.1, Grigoryeva V.N.1, Sorokoumova S.N.2,3,4, Suvorova O.V.4,5
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Affiliations:
- Privolzhsky Research Medical University
- Russian Academy of Education
- Research Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia
- Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University
- Perm State Humanitarian Pedagogical University
- Issue: Vol LVII, No 2 (2025)
- Pages: 170-179
- Section: Reviews
- Submitted: 06.11.2024
- Accepted: 16.11.2024
- Published: 14.06.2025
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/1027-4898/article/view/641646
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/nb641646
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/XXDLMU
- ID: 641646
Cite item
Abstract
Executive functions play an important role, enabling individuals to engage in conscious, goal-oriented behavior and to plan actions and monitor their execution. This article summarizes current concepts regarding executive functions, potential approaches to their clinical diagnosis, and future development prospects. Moreover, the evolution of understanding and the conceptualization of the brain regulatory system are discussed. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the executive functions. These mechanisms are driven by the activity of multiple, partially overlapping neural networks, along with specific intra-network nodes and connections that participate in basic data processing and play a pivotal role in the organization of neural networks. A review of cognitive models of executive functions have been presented, including a discussion of one of the most extensively cited models (Miyake’s model). The present article focuses on the current approaches to the investigation of executive functions and their underlying network models using graph theory-based mathematical methods.
The article discusses the qualitative and quantitative approaches to the diagnosis of executive dysfunction and the challenges associated with the neuropsychological assessment of such functions. Furthermore, a range of screening and conventional diagnostic tools for the assessment of executive dysfunction is hereby detailed. Relatively new approaches to the clinical diagnosis of executive functions using information and communication technologies (computerized neuropsychological tests with interactive graphics, virtual reality technologies, and serious games) have been reviewed. A significant focus is placed on virtual diagnostic tests that use gaming technologies, as these approaches can enhance the ecological validity and reliability of study findings.
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About the authors
Polina S. Popova
Privolzhsky Research Medical University
Author for correspondence.
Email: polina_popova43@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-3327-672X
SPIN-code: 9950-7056
Resident of the Department of Nervous Diseases
Russian Federation, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky sq, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005Aleksey E. Khrulev
Privolzhsky Research Medical University
Email: alexey_khrulev@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0169-3956
SPIN-code: 1051-9769
Scopus Author ID: 57210284114
ResearcherId: AAA-6833-2019
http://employee.pimunn.ru/id766/details
Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor; Professor of the Department of Nervous Diseases
Russian Federation, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky sq, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005Vera N. Grigoryeva
Privolzhsky Research Medical University
Email: vrgr@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6256-3429
SPIN-code: 3412-5653
http://employee.pimunn.ru/departments/54/employees
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Nervous Diseases
Russian Federation, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky sq, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005Svetlana N. Sorokoumova
Russian Academy of Education; Research Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University
Email: 4013@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8339-6597
SPIN-code: 3355-9260
Dr. Sci. (Psychology), Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Chief Researcher, Professor of the Department of Developmental and Pedagogical Psychology
Russian Federation, 8, Pogodinskaya St., Moscow, 119121;buil. 1, 15a, Narvskaya str., Moscow, 125130; 1, Ulyanova str., Nizhny Novgorod, 603005Olga V. Suvorova
Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University; Perm State Humanitarian Pedagogical University
Email: olgavenn@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3977-7813
SPIN-code: 7347-8274
Dr. Sci. (Psychology), Professor, Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Russian Federation, 1, Ulyanova str., Nizhny Novgorod, 603005; 24 Sibirskaya str., Perm, 614990References
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