Structure of executive functions in young and in older persons.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Using factor analysis, several studies reported that higher-order cognitive control involves separable executive functions. However, the number and definition of the purported functions differed between studies. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that executive functions don't exhibit a clear factorial structure, i.e., there is no clear dichotomy between executive function tests which are well-correlated (representing a common factor) and those which are poorly correlated (representing distinct factors). We scrutinize this explanation separately in data from young and from older persons.

Methods & results

Young and older volunteers completed cognitive tests of the purported executive functions shifting, updating, inhibition and dual-tasking (two te

SUBMITTER: Bock O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6508866 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature