Executive function, self-regulation and attribution in acquired brain injury: A scoping review

Impairments in executive function, self-regulation and attribution individually have been implicated in impairment in goal-directed behaviour, resulting in reduced participation in daily activities by individuals with brain injury. There is minimal literature that explicitly addresses the relationships among these constructs, how these may be affected by brain injury and the implications for rehabilitation. The objectives of this study were to determine what is known about the relationship between executive function, self-regulation and attribution, and to understand how these inter-relationships affect goal-directed behaviour in adults with acquired brain injury. A scoping review of the cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, rehabilitation, educational and social psychology literature from 1985 to 2011 was performed. The identified literature provided definitions of the constructs and insight into the relationships between them according to their neural underpinnings and theoretical models. These data also provided for the development of a new model illustrating the hypothesised relationships between constructs. This review and the model developed, suggest that attribution may play an important role in executive function and self-regulation. Rehabilitation interventions that address formulation of appropriate attributions should be considered in conjunction with those targeting self-regulation and executive function for individuals with brain injury.