Contributions of the ecological approach to the neuropsychology of executive functions

Abstract

Neurocognitive assessment involves several different types of processes, techniques and instruments. Traditionally, clinical and/or standardized methods have been the most extensively used in neuropsychological research and clinical practice. Ecological instruments are characterized by the standardized administration of tasks with similar cognitive demands to those observed in everyday situations. Although executive functions are often required in daily living tasks, the lack of a consensus as to their theoretical defi nition has posed several hurdles to their assessment and rehabilitation. The aim of this paper was to present the contributions of an ecological neuropsychological approach to assessment, rehabilitation, and neuroimaging, while discussing the theoretical implications of these processes on the neuropsychology of executive functions. This was achieved through a non-systematic review of classical and contemporary literature on ecological assessment tools. The use of an ecological approach has contributed to the understanding and assessment of functional impairment, as well as to the development of rehabilitation programs focusing on practical daily living activities, allowing for a clearer understanding of the neural correlates of complex environmental and individual factors, and for a more thorough reassessment of the validity of theoretical models of executive functions .

Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory: Adaptação e Propriedades Psicométricas da Versão Brasileira

“…Essa primeira parte do estudo resultou em um instrumento funcional para avaliação das FE em crianças, ferramenta que, até a presente data, não se encontra disponível no contexto nacional, apesar de trabalhos de grupos de pesquisa com outros instrumentos, a exemplo do Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function -BRIEF (Carim, Miranda, & Bueno, 2012). Tais ferramentas e os estudos de suas características psicométricas podem ter relevância à área dada a ausência de instrumentos funcionais para avaliação de FE no Brasil e a relevância desse tipo de mensuração para complementar o processo de avaliação neuropsicológica (Zimmermann et al, 2014).…”

Development and Content Validity of IFERA-II for Adults

“…By developing and presenting a new functional measure, the present study aimed to contribute to the discussion on the ecological validity of EFs measures (Garcia-Barrera et al, 2014;Isquith et al, 2013;Roth et al, 2014;Viklund et al, 2019;Zimmermann et al, 2014) and to minimize the current limitations regarding the availability of these measures, which creates some obstacles for the multi-method evaluation of EFs, as suggested by several authors (Garcia-Barrera et al, 2014;Isquith et al, 2013). From this study, the final version of IFERA-II was created, and new investigations are underway to verify its psychometric properties, including information about its reliability and evidence of validity (convergence with other variables and external criteria).…”

“…In fact, an important discussion in neuropsychology refers to the ecological validity of its assessment instruments. The evaluation of EFs through performance tests have been criticized, as these tests have been considered limited in terms of their ecological validity and prediction of the behavior in the 'real world' environment (Garcia-Barrera et al, 2014;Isquith et al, 2013;Roth et al, 2014;Viklund et al, 2019;Zimmermann et al, 2014). Some authors argue that, given the complexity of the construct, a multi-method assessment should be considered, with an important role for the functional measures in measuring EFs (Garcia-Barrera et al, 2014;Isquith et al, 2013).…”

“…Some authors argue that, given the complexity of the construct, a multi-method assessment should be considered, with an important role for the functional measures in measuring EFs (Garcia-Barrera et al, 2014;Isquith et al, 2013). Functional measures are those that aim to assess the individual's performance in everyday (or 'real world') tasks, which are usually carried out using evaluation scales (Zimmermann et al, 2014). A proposal for a multi-method assessment, however, may encounter lack of functional measures to assess these skills.…”

Executive Functions, Motor Development and Digital Games Apply to School Children: A Systematic Mapping Study

“…This considers the daily tasks that the individual practices or the context and environment in which they are inserted. In this context, there is a tendency to integrate ecological theories into several applications in neuropsychological science [10] and evaluation of motor development in children [11]. In the area of motor development, it is possible to combine bodily activities with activities from digital games.…”