Toward an Understanding of the Neural Basis of Executive Function Development

Executive function (EF) refers to a set of top-down neurocognitive processes that underlie the regulation of thought, emotion, and action. Scientific interest in EF development has blossomed over the past two decades because individual differences in EF predict outcomes in a wide range of contexts over the short and long term. EF varies along a continuum from "cool" to "hot". Cool aspects of EF are those that emerge in decontextualized contexts, whereas hot aspects of EF are those that emerge in motivationally significant contexts. We provide a review of hot and cool EF and what is known about their neural basis over development. We conclude with a discussion of the future research needed to advance our understanding of the neural basis of EF.