A Developmental Systems Approach to Executive Function

Abstract According to recent claims from behavior genetics, executive function (EF) is almost entirely heritable. The implications of this claim are significant, given the importance of EF in academic, social, and psychological domains. This paper critically examines the behavior genetics approach to explaining individual differences in EF and proposes a relational developmental systems model that integrates both biological and social factors in the development of EF and the emergence of individual differences in EF. Problems inherent to behavioral genetics research are discussed, as is neuroscience research that emphasizes the plasticity of the prefrontal cortex. Empirical evidence from research on stress, social interaction, and intervention and training demonstrates that individual differences in EF are experience-dependent. Taken together, these findings challenge the claim that EF is almost entirely genetic but are consistent with an approach that considers biological differences in the context of social interaction.