459 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 P. Á. Gargiulo, H. L. Mesones Arroyo (eds.), Psychiatry and Neuroscience Update, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61721-9_33 A Summary of the Developmental Trajectory of Executive Functions from Birth to Adulthood Celina Korzeniowski, Mirta Susana Ison, and Hilda Difabio de Anglat Introduction Executive functions (EFs) refer to a set of cogni- tive control abilities involved in the coordination of fexible and goal-directed behavior [1]. They are triggered by a wide variety of situations, especially when they are novel and complex; thus, competence in executive functions is criti- cal for self-regulated behavior [2]. EFs include a set of higher-order cognitive abilities. There is general agreement that there are three core EFs: inhibitory control, working memory, and cogni- tive fexibility [1, 3–6]. Based on these, skills that are more complex related to EFs are built, such as planning, metacognition, reasoning, and problem-solving [1, 3–6]. The neuroanatomical substrate of EFs involves a set of interconnected neural networks that operate in a coordinated way across an integration zone located in pre- frontal areas [1, 7]. These cognitive control abilities are among the most complex human processes. They are essential for cognitive, socio-emotional, and psy- chological development during our entire life- time. In addition, they are a critical predictor of school performance [8, 9]. Longitudinal design studies have highlighted that satisfactory EF per- formance in childhood is associated with aca- demic success, better employment status, improved quality of life, physical and psycho- logical health, well-being, and a lower incidence of disruptive conduct and psychopathology in adolescence and adulthood [1, 4, 10]. Hence, the study of the developmental trajec- tory of EFs has sparked great interest among theoreticians and researchers. EFs develop over a long time, starting in infancy and continuing until adulthood. This is a sequential and multistage process, where different functions mature at dif- ferent times. Some theoreticians speak about a pyramidal development of EFs, where the most basic abilities precede and underpin the develop- ment of other, more complex capacities [1, 3]. In childhood, it has been documented that inhibitory control plays a key role in the development of later EFs [1, 5, 6]. Later on, the three core EFs – inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive fexibility – act as the basis for the development of other ones, such as planning, problem-solving, and metacognition [1, 3, 11, 12]. The truth is that EFs evolve over time indi- vidually until they form an integrated cognitive control system that involves multiple crosslinking C. Korzeniowski (*) · M. S. Ison Institute of Human, Social and Environmental Sciences (INCIHUSA-CONICET), Scientifc- Technological Center (CCT Mendoza – CONICET), CONICET, Capital, Mendoza, Argentina e-mail: ckorzeniowski@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar; mison@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar H. Difabio de Anglat Cuyo Research Center (CIC) – CONICET, Capital, Mendoza, Argentina 33