Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26749076›Full record

ReviewDevelopmental cognitive neuroscience2016

Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not.

Adele Diamond, Daphne S Ling

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 401 papers, 23 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
401citing papers in PubMed, 23 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04788238 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Dual-Task Zumba Gold for Improving the Cognition of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityRan2021 to 2022Enrolled60ConditionsMild Cognitive ImpairmentArmsDual-Task Zumba Gold
NCT05794360 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of the Impact of School-based Sport Research Program on Children's Physical Activity, Executive Function, and Academic Achievement

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of HoustonRan2022 to 2022Enrolled257ConditionsPhysical InactivityArmsACtive Children Enhance LEaRning and AttenTION (ACCELERATION)
NCT06288971 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Personalized Innovative Intervention Pathways to Promote Executive Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

TypeinterventionalSponsorIRCCS Fondazione Stella MarisRan2024 to 2027Enrolled40ConditionsExecutive Functions in Cerebral PalsyArmsSelf-adaption web-based software for the rehabilitation of EF and visuo-spatial abilities, Tele-rehabilitation of EF and specific cognitive processes underlying academic skills, Game-based tools for the rehabilitation of EF and motor planning
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

401 citing papers in PubMed, 23 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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341 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Adele DiamondProgram in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, UBC, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2A1. Electronic address: adele.diamond@ubc.ca.
Daphne S LingProgram in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, UBC, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2A1.

Funding

Differences by Sex and Genotype in the Effects of Stress on Executive FunctionsR01DA037285 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA · PI DIAMOND, ADELE D · 2014 to 2018
$1.1M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA037285
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The 'Executive Functions' (EFs) of inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility enable us to think before we act, resist temptations or impulsive reactions, stay focused, reason, problem-solve, flexibly adjust to changed demands or priorities, and see things from new and different perspectives. These skills are critical for success in all life's aspects and are sometimes more predictive than even IQ or socioeconomic status. Understandably, there is great interest in improving EFs. It's now clear they can be improved at any age through training and practice, much as physical exercise hones physical fitness. However, despite claims to the contrary, wide transfer does not seem to occur and 'mindless' aerobic exercise does little to improve EFs. Important questions remain: How much can EFs be improved (are benefits only superficial) and how long can benefits be sustained? What are the best methods for improving EFs? What about an approach accounts for its success? Do the answers to these differ by individual characteristics such as age or gender? Since stress, sadness, loneliness, or poor health impair EFs, and the reverse enhances EFs, we predict that besides directly train EFs, the most successful approaches for improving EFs will also address emotional, social, and physical needs.

Indexed as

AgingBiomedical EnhancementCognitionExecutive FunctionExerciseHumansMemory, Short-TermReproducibility of ResultsSex CharacteristicsAerobic exerciseCognitive trainingLonelinessPrefrontal cortexStressWorking memory

Identifiers

PMID26749076
PMCPMC5108631

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.