The Importance and Training of Executive Functions among Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Executive function is a set of higher-order cognitive processes in which people control their thoughts and behaviors to accomplish goals. This paper explores whether executive functions are similar important for children and children with autism spectrum disorder, and whether existing training methods are efficient. Executive function is important for children because they can use the function to improve their academic and social performance. When children lack executive functions, they are vulnerable to mental disorders including the autism spectrum disorder. To reduce the risk of mental disorders, children should be provided with executive function training, which usually includes behavioral, movement-based and mindfulness training methods. Behavioral training can effectively help children with attention deficiency. Movement-based training is supposed to strengthen children’s muscles, in particular the brain development, and enhance children’s inhibitory control and attention. Mindfulness training aims at removing judgmental experiences at a given moment in terms of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve children’s cognitive control. Executive functions are more rampant among preschool children. Children with autism spectrum disorder need executive function training as it can improve their working memory, cognitive flexibility and response inhibition. However, executive function training can be highly individualized and require qualified trainers, and traditional executive function training methods may lack effectiveness, which requires future research to continue to develop and focus on advanced technologies to improve the effectiveness of executive function training. This paper can provide some reference for follow-up research.