ABSTRACT
The development of sophisticated neuropsychological testing techniques and the advent of in-vivo imaging have jointly led to increased interest in the role of cortical regions, particularly the frontal lobes, in what neuropsychologists call ‘executive function(s)’. However, it is important at the outset to be clear about the term itself, and the relationship between executive functions and the frontal lobes. Executive functions refer to a raft of psychological attributes that are supervisory, controlling and organisational. Although these skills are all critical for normal everyday behaviour, their somewhat abstract nature means that routine psychological assessments such as IQ tests or measures of sensory perception may fail to detect any executive dysfunctions. They include the ability to plan, initiate and terminate actions, to think in abstract or conceptual terms, to adapt to changing circumstances and to respond in socially appropriate ways. It is therefore little wonder that individuals with impaired executive function show deficits in one or more of these domains. Baddeley (1986) has used the term ‘dysexecutive syndrome’ to identify these impairments.
