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Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Executive functions in children with traumatic brain injury
Arthur Macneill Horton1, Henry V Soper, Cecil R Reynolds
1Psych Associates of Maryland, Bethesda, MD, USA. drmachorton@hotmail.com
Applied Neuropsychology
|May 15, 2010
Summary
Executive functions develop with brain maturation, but standardized child assessments are lacking. This article reviews neurodevelopment, new executive function measures, and implications for brain-injured children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Executive functioning abilities mature throughout childhood, closely linked to human brain development.
- Current standardized functional assessments for evaluating executive functioning in children are insufficient.
- Traumatic brain injuries can significantly impact the development of executive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the neurodevelopment of executive functioning in children.
- To review recent advancements in executive functioning assessment measures.
- To discuss the clinical implications for traumatically brain-injured children.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of executive function neurodevelopment.
- Description of newly developed executive functioning assessment tools.
- Analysis of clinical applications for pediatric populations.
Main Results:
- Executive function development follows a maturational trajectory tied to brain development.
- Several new measures are available to assess specific executive functions across developmental stages.
- These findings have direct relevance for understanding and managing executive function deficits in children with brain injuries.
Conclusions:
- Standardized assessment of executive functions is crucial for tracking child development.
- Recent measures offer improved tools for evaluating specific executive functions.
- Understanding neurodevelopmental trajectories informs interventions for children with traumatic brain injuries.
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