Desenvolvimento de uma bateria de funções executivas para crianças na idade escolar

• Ano de defesa: 2014
• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Andreia Cristina Correia da [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
• Palavras-chave em Português: executive functions; neuropsychological assessment; Children; development; funções executivas; avaliação neuropsicológica; Crianças; desenvolvimento
• Link de acesso: https://sucupira.capes.gov.br/sucupira/public/consultas/coleta/trabalhoConclusao/viewTrabalhoConclusao.jsf?popup=true&id_trabalho=1307974; https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/46787

The executive functions are among the most complex aspects of cognition and involve different components, and such complexity is also reflected in the conceptual definitions because there is not yet consensus on its definition. Currently, however, many authors agree that executive functions are an integrated system comprising distinct domains such as shifting, updating, inhibition, switching, planning. The complexity of the construct is directly reflected in the assessment of executive functions and the construction of appropriate tasks since they do not measure just one skill. Additionally, several studies show that executive functions develop over the child's growth, being well established in the literature related to academic performance. This study is part of a broader project that has as main objective to develop and propose a battery to assess different domains of executive functions, so that it can be used with many participants of different ages, from childhood to adulthood, and also by different intellectual and socioeconomic levels. The aim of this study was the development of the battery for children between 6-12 years of age. The study was developed in successive steps: a) query the literature on the evaluation paradigms of executive functions for adaptation / construction of the tasks b) Pilot studies to assess the adequacy of the battery; c) testing in a group of children with Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity. The results show that the battery has tasks that appear suitable to the purpose of evaluation, but some of them still require other changes. Future studies will determine which tasks can thus be more specific in the areas and components of executive functions. And yet, being in the public domain, does not require the use of equipment or paid programs, and can be used from the beginning of schooling to adulthood in people of different socioeconomic levels. And thus making neuropsychological assessment more accurate, sensitive and specific with respect to each executive domain, aiding in the diagnosis process.