Jewsbury Paul A, Bowden Stephen C, Strauss Milton E
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.
Department of Psychological Sciences.
J Exp Psychol Gen. 2016 Feb;145(2):220-45. doi: 10.1037/xge0000119.
Executive function is an important concept in neuropsychological and cognitive research, and is often viewed as central to effective clinical assessment of cognition. However, the construct validity of executive function tests is controversial. The switching, inhibition, and updating model is the most empirically supported and replicated factor model of executive function (Miyake et al., 2000). To evaluate the relation between executive function constructs and nonexplicitly executive cognitive constructs, we used confirmatory factor reanalysis guided by the comprehensive Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities. Data from 7 of the best studies supporting the executive function model were reanalyzed, contrasting executive function models and CHC models. Where possible, we examined the effect of specifying executive function factors in addition to the CHC factors. The results suggested that little evidence is available to support updating as a separate factor from general memory factors; that inhibition does not separate from general speed; and that switching is supported as a narrow factor under general speed, but with a more restricted definition than some clinicians and researchers have conceptualized. The replicated executive function factor structure was integrated with the larger body of research on individual difference in cognition, as represented by the CHC model.
执行功能是神经心理学和认知研究中的一个重要概念，常被视为有效认知临床评估的核心。然而，执行功能测试的结构效度存在争议。转换、抑制和更新模型是执行功能最受实证支持和重复验证的因素模型（宫下等，2000）。为了评估执行功能结构与非明确执行认知结构之间的关系，我们采用了由认知能力的综合卡特尔-霍恩-卡罗尔（CHC）模型指导的验证性因素再分析。对支持执行功能模型的7项最佳研究的数据进行了再分析，对比了执行功能模型和CHC模型。在可能的情况下，我们除了检验CHC因素外，还考察了指定执行功能因素的效果。结果表明，几乎没有证据支持将更新作为一个与一般记忆因素分开的单独因素；抑制与一般速度没有分离；转换被支持作为一般速度下的一个狭义因素，但定义比一些临床医生和研究人员所概念化的更受限制。重复验证的执行功能因素结构与以CHC模型为代表的关于认知个体差异的更广泛研究相结合。
