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Mapping Executive Function Tasks for Children: A Scoping Review for Designing a Research-Oriented Platform

Matheus Rodrigues Felizardo, Nuno Miguel Feixa Rodrigues, António Coelho, Sónia Silva Sousa, Adriana Sampaio, Eva Ferreira de Oliveira

TL;DR

The paper addresses the lack of standardized executive function tasks for children aged 5–9 and maps existing tasks to inform a research-oriented platform. Using a PRISMA-ScR-based scoping review of publications from 2019 to 2024 across SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and ERIC, the authors identify 23 studies and 28 EF tasks categorized into inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The findings reveal substantial heterogeneity in task design, scoring, and trial parameters, with underutilization of movement-based approaches. The work argues for a unified digital framework that standardizes task parameters, enables cross-cultural adaptation, and supports scalable, movement-inclusive EF assessment.

Abstract

Background: Executive functions (EFs) are cognitive processes essential for controlling impulses, staying focused, thinking before acting, and managing information. Childhood is a critical period for EF development, but there is a lack of standardized tools that combine EF tasks with physical activity in a gamified approach. Objectives: This scoping review maps EF tasks for children, identifies common strategies, and explores methods for measuring outcomes, providing a foundation for a research-oriented platform to assess EF development. Design: A systematic search was conducted in SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and ERIC databases with the query "executive function task" AND (children OR child OR childhood). Inclusion criteria were studies published between 2019 and 2024 in English, with participants aged 5 to 9 years. Data extracted included task details, scoring mechanisms, and stop conditions. Studies lacking clear methodological descriptions were excluded. Results: A total of 2044 articles were identified, with 113 duplicates removed. After selection, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The identified tasks are listed in Table 2. Key tasks, strategies, and measurement methodologies were highlighted. Conclusions: Integrating EF tasks into a structured platform offers a promising approach to standardize assessments, fill research gaps, and provide a reliable tool for studying EF development in children. Keywords: Executive Functions, Inhibition, Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, Task Design, Standardization

Mapping Executive Function Tasks for Children: A Scoping Review for Designing a Research-Oriented Platform

TL;DR

The paper addresses the lack of standardized executive function tasks for children aged 5–9 and maps existing tasks to inform a research-oriented platform. Using a PRISMA-ScR-based scoping review of publications from 2019 to 2024 across SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and ERIC, the authors identify 23 studies and 28 EF tasks categorized into inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The findings reveal substantial heterogeneity in task design, scoring, and trial parameters, with underutilization of movement-based approaches. The work argues for a unified digital framework that standardizes task parameters, enables cross-cultural adaptation, and supports scalable, movement-inclusive EF assessment.

Abstract

Background: Executive functions (EFs) are cognitive processes essential for controlling impulses, staying focused, thinking before acting, and managing information. Childhood is a critical period for EF development, but there is a lack of standardized tools that combine EF tasks with physical activity in a gamified approach. Objectives: This scoping review maps EF tasks for children, identifies common strategies, and explores methods for measuring outcomes, providing a foundation for a research-oriented platform to assess EF development. Design: A systematic search was conducted in SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and ERIC databases with the query "executive function task" AND (children OR child OR childhood). Inclusion criteria were studies published between 2019 and 2024 in English, with participants aged 5 to 9 years. Data extracted included task details, scoring mechanisms, and stop conditions. Studies lacking clear methodological descriptions were excluded. Results: A total of 2044 articles were identified, with 113 duplicates removed. After selection, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The identified tasks are listed in Table 2. Key tasks, strategies, and measurement methodologies were highlighted. Conclusions: Integrating EF tasks into a structured platform offers a promising approach to standardize assessments, fill research gaps, and provide a reliable tool for studying EF development in children. Keywords: Executive Functions, Inhibition, Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, Task Design, Standardization

Paper Structure

This paper contains 14 sections, 1 figure.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Methods
  3. Target Population
  4. Research Questions
  5. Search Strategy and Study Selection
  6. Data Extraction
  7. Results
  8. Executive Function Tasks Identified
  9. Summary of Key Findings
  10. Limitations
  11. Discussion
  12. Lack of Standardization Across Studies
  13. The Need for a Unified Framework
  14. Conclusion

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: PRISMA Flow Diagram for Executive Function Task Review (Children Aged 5–9).