ABSTRACT
Executive function (EF) refers to the goal-oriented regulation of an individual’s thoughts, actions, and emotions. EF starts to develop during infancy, showing rapid changes during preschool years, and continues to develop until adolescence and adulthood. Historically, EF is strongly interconnected with the prefrontal cortex. Infants develop some rudimentary EF skills; however, EF shows important developmental changes and becomes more elaborate during early childhood. Several types of theories exist to characterize EF development during childhood; some theories emphasize the importance of a specific factor, while others take on a functional approach to explain EF. Cognitive shifting refers to the ability to flexibly switch between different tasks or mental sets. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test is a widely used measure of cognitive shifting. Extensive psychological studies have shown that cognitive shifting rapidly develops over childhood.
