Executive function (EF)is theadvanced cognitive ability of an individual to control the cooperative operation of multiple cognitive processesin a flexible and optimized way when achieving a specific goal, that is, the cognitive processing ability of an individual to successfully complete the target behavior.
A more mature theory of executive function is the response inhibition deficit hypothesis proposed by Barkley (1997)which holds that the basic deficit of executive function lies in self-control, which together with working memory, planning organization, decision making and monitoring constitute the deficit of executive function.
At present, neuropsychological research generally believes that executive function deficiency is the main cause of cognitive deficiency in some children with mental development diseases.