Relational frame theory and executive functioning: preliminary data

Abstract

Within neuropsychology, the executive functions (EFs) are regarded as the highest mental processes (Alvarez & Emory, 2006) and are a central and defining feature of human cognition. But despite their first inception over 35 years ago, no consensus has emerged regarding their specific definition or operation (Banich, 2009). The precisely defined component processes outlined within Relational Frame Theory (a modern, post-Skinnerian behavioural account of language and cognition), however, may have the potential to bring a new level of construct validity to the study of the EFs. Within this paper, we present results indicating that the processes commonly referred to as the EFs can be accounted for within a framework of arbitrarily applicable relational responding. These results have exciting implications for the construct validity of the EFs, and have clinical implications for the assessment and potential rehabilitation of these abilities.</p