ABSTRACT
Executive function is a crucial set of cognitive abilities that emerge in infancy and continue to develop throughout childhood and adolescence. These abilities include attention shifting, working memory, inhibition, and other recently identified functions, such as planning and cognitive flexibility. Although there are inconsistencies in the literature regarding the number and differentiation of these functions, it is widely accepted that they play an essential role in children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. The developmental trajectory of executive functions is closely tied to changes in the prefrontal cortex, which becomes more specialized with age. Research indicates that stress, poverty, trauma, and family dysfunction have negative effects on the development of executive function and academic performance. The chapter traces the development of executive functions and their biological underpinning before it discusses the relationship that executive functions have with academic achievement and mental health. The chapter also reviews the threats to executive functions and offers ideas for family and school interventions.
