[Executive function disorders]

To review the development, anatomy and physiology of executive functions (EF) in normal and pathological conditions.

EF consist of several internal mental process design to solve mental and environmental complex problems in an efficient and acceptable way to the person and the society. EF include inhibition of behavior and irrelevant information, nonverbal working memory, verbal working memory, self-regulation of affect, motivation and arousal, planning, decision making, self monitoring of the entire solving problem process and self evaluation of the results of the action taken. The anatomical substrate is at the prefrontal lobe cortex and its afferent and efferent structures. Neurotransmitters involved in activation of neurons at the prefrontal cortex are dopamine and norepinephrine and in less degree acetylcholine and serotonine.

Disorders of one or more of the EF in children and adolescents are found in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, bipolar disease, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, autism and traumatic brain injury.