摘要
•Cognitive flexibility is essential for appropriate behavioral responses. •Neural correlates of cognitive flexibility include systems for executive control. •Cognitive flexibility undergoes protracted development and is impaired in disorders. •Neural flexibility and brain dynamics may underlie cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility, the readiness with which one can selectively switch between mental processes to generate appropriate behavioral responses, develops in a protracted manner and is compromised in several prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. It is unclear whether cognitive flexibility arises from neural substrates distinct from the executive control network (ECN) or from the interplay of nodes within this and other networks. Here we review neuroimaging studies of cognitive flexibility, focusing on set shifting and task switching. We propose that more consistent operationalization and study of cognitive flexibility is required in clinical and developmental neuroscience. We suggest that an important avenue for future research is the characterization of the relationship between neural flexibility and cognitive flexibility in typical and atypical development. Cognitive flexibility, the readiness with which one can selectively switch between mental processes to generate appropriate behavioral responses, develops in a protracted manner and is compromised in several prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. It is unclear whether cognitive flexibility arises from neural substrates distinct from the executive control network (ECN) or from the interplay of nodes within this and other networks. Here we review neuroimaging studies of cognitive flexibility, focusing on set shifting and task switching. We propose that more consistent operationalization and study of cognitive flexibility is required in clinical and developmental neuroscience. We suggest that an important avenue for future research is the characterization of the relationship between neural flexibility and cognitive flexibility in typical and atypical development. a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core deficits in social interaction/communication and the presence of RRBs; those with ASD also have impaired cognitive flexibility [65Sergeant J.A. et al.How specific is a deficit of executive functioning for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?.Behav. Brain Res. 2002; 130: 3-28Crossref PubMed Scopus (576) Google Scholar, 69Lopez B.R. et al.Examining the relationship between executive functions and restricted, repetitive symptoms of autistic disorder.J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2005; 35: 445-460Crossref PubMed Scopus (358) Google Scholar, 71American Psychiatric Association DSM 5. 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