SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2026
Comparative efficacy of executive function interventions for Chinese children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A network meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Executive function (EF) deficits are core features of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Executive function interventions for preschool and school-age children could serve as an important primary prevention and adjunct rehabilitation strategy. Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of evidence-based executive function interventions on working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility in Chinese children and to explore their potential for clinical translation. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on executive function interventions in Chinese children were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases from inception to October 1, 2025. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, and NMA was conducted using R software with the netmeta package. Results: Fifty-two RCTs enrolling 2,986 Chinese children (3-12 years) met inclusion criteria. Network meta-analyses demonstrated significant, domain-specific improvements in all three core executive-function components. Working memory was most enhanced by Treatment 2 (SMD = 0.073, 95% CI = 0.037-0.109), whereas inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility were both maximized by Treatment 3 (IC: SMD = 0.093, 95% CI = 0.071-0.115; CF: SMD = 0.097, 95% CI = 0.069-0.126). Conclusion: Current evidence indicates that structured executive function interventions have statistically significant but modest effects on Chinese children. These findings offer preliminary support for considering non-pharmacological cognitive interventions in preventive public health strategies and rehabilitation programs for neurodevelopmental disorders in children, with further large-scale, long-term validation needed before widespread implementation. These findings offer preliminary support for integrating non-pharmacological cognitive interventions into preventive public health strategies and clinical rehabilitation programs for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, with further large-scale, long-term validation required prior to their widespread implementation in clinical and educational settings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420251266663.
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