Table 1.
Executive function task subtypes, with frequency and convergence with other types of self-control measures
| Task | Example | General Description | Exec Function | Delay Tasks | Questionnaire Measures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self | Informant | |||||
| Go/No-Go Task |
Continuous Performance Task (Rosvold et al., 1956) |
The subject develops a prepotent motor response (e.g., hitting the spacebar) to frequently appearing targets, and then must inhibit this response when a less frequently appearing non-target appears. |
r = .16 [.14, .17] k = 64, j = 131 N = 4,855 |
r =.12 [.05, .19] k = 10, j = 17 N = 523 |
r =.11 [.08, .15] k = 30, j = 47 N = 1,969 |
r =.15 [.11, .18] k = 23, j = 46 N = 1,883 |
| Stroop Task | Stroop Task (Stroop, 1935) |
The subject must respond to a series of stimuli in a way that requires inhibition of a previously overlearned response. |
r =.14 [.13, .16] k = 97, j =153 N = 7,819 |
r =.16 [.08, .23] k = 4, j =4 N = 663 |
r =.12 [.06, .18] k = 9, j =10 N = 1,919 |
r = .09 [.05, .13] k = 10, j =23 N = 1,284 |
| Set Switching Task |
Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (Heaton, 1981) |
The subject learns an initial set of rules, which change during subsequent trials. The task requires inhibition of previously learned rules and the adoption of a new set of rules. |
r = .15 [.13, 17] k = 74, j =120 N = 6,525 |
r = −.06 [−.32, .20] k = 1, j =1 N = 60 |
r = .18 [.10, .26] k = 4, j =6 N = 373 |
r = .23 [.15, .31] k = 7, j =9 N =430 |
| Reflection Task |
Matching Familiar Figures Task (Kagan et al., 1964) |
A stimulus (e.g., a geometric pattern) is presented, and the subject must choose the correct response (e.g., the identical pattern) among very similar responses. |
r = .18 [.14, .22] k = 22, j =33 N = 1,646 |
r = .11 [−.01, .24] k = 3, j =3 N = 244 |
r = .07 [.01, .13] k = 13, j = 16 N = 991 |
r =.14 [.09, .18] k = 15, j =28 N = 1,117 |
| Stop-Signal Task |
Stop-Signal Paradigm (Logan, 1994) |
The subject performs a primary task and is presented with periodic signals, in response to which they must temporarily stop performing the primary task. |
r = .11 [.08, .14] k = 19, j =41 N = 1,982 |
r = .17 [.02, .31] k = 5, j =5 N = 189 |
r = .17 [.08, .25] k = 8, j =10 N = 402 |
r = .13 [.08, .18] k = 4, j =13 N = 506 |
| Motor Inhibition Task |
Draw A Line Slowly Task (Maccoby et al., 1965) |
The subject must control or slow motor behavior. |
r = .17 [.13, .20] k = 17, j =32 N = 1,529 |
r = .11 [.04, .18] k = 4, j =5 N = 665 |
r = .04 [−.01, .10] k = 8, j =13 N = 919 |
r = .07 [−.01, .15] k = 4, j =4 N = 564 |
| Tower Tasks | Tower of London Test (Shallice, 1982, 1988) |
The subject must plan ahead and resist immediate action in order to solve a problem. |
r = .14 [.11, .17] k = 22, j =43 N = 1,840 |
--- |
r = .16 [.02, .20] k = 1, j =3 N = 24 |
r = .21 [.00, .40] k = 2, j =2 N = 90 |
| Trails Task | Trail Making Task (Reitan & Wolfson, 1985) |
Subjects first connect numbered circles in sequential order, and in a subsequent trial, connect numbers in an alternating pattern. Differences in performance between these two trials are recorded. |
r = .18 [.14, .21] k = 16, j =27 N = 2,035 |
r = .11 [.02, .20] k = 1, j =1 N = 430 |
r =.05 [−.04, .14] k = 1, j =1 N = 430 |
r = .14 [.08, .20] k = 3, j =9 N = 604 |
| Porteus Maze Task |
Porteus Maze (Porteus, 1942) |
The subject completes a series of mazes of increasing complexity. Successfully completing the maze requires looking ahead and avoiding dead ends. |
r = .15 [.11, .19] k = 10, j =21 N = 914 |
--- |
r = .11 [.03, .19] k = 3, j =6 N = 278 |
--- |
| Attention Task |
Flanker Task (Eriksen & Eriksen, 1974) |
Subjects must sustain attention to a target stimulus while ignoring distracters. |
r =.19 [.10, .28] k = 5, j =10 N = 221 |
--- | --- |
r = .33 [.22, .42] k = 3, j =6 N = 140 |
| Iowa Gambling Task |
Iowa Gambling Task (Bechara et al., 1994) |
The subject chooses among four decks of cards. Each card results in a monetary gain or loss, and some decks yield more long-run gains than others. |
r =.17 [.05, .27] k = 6, j =10 N = 219 |
r = .00 [−.15, .15] k = 2, j =2 N = 172 |
r =−.02 [−.10,.07] k = 2, j =3 N = 409 |
--- |
| Risk Task | Balloon Analogue Risk Task (Lejuez et al., 2002) |
Subjects play a game in which rewards are steadily accrued but the risk of losing all accumulated rewards increases with each trial. |
r = .11 [−.04, .25] k = 2, j =3 N = 109 |
r = −.05 [−.28, .19] k = 1, j =1 N = 70 |
r = .16 [.05, .27] k = 2, j =4 N = 168 |
--- |
Note. r = average correlation coefficient, based on a fixed effects model (weighted by the inverse variance); 95% confidence interval is given in brackets [ ]; k = number of samples included in average correlation; j = number of effect sizes included in average correlation; N = number of participants included in average correlation.