Executive Functions and Writing

Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes we use to act on information, manage resources, and plan and monitor our own behaviour, all with the aim of achieving an end goal. These are skills that develop from infancy. While 'reading' has been extensively studied in psychology literature, 'writing' has been somewhat neglected, despite a lack of capability in this area being linked to poverty and social exclusion. This book is the first comprehensive and state-of-the-art review of the relationship between executive function skills and writing. It explores its role across the lifespan, addressing all groups of writers, from children and those with learning and language difficulties, to adults and elders. It considers theoretical viewpoints, assessment and methodological issues, and developmental disorders, and closes with insightful commentary chapters that draw future directions for investigating executive functions. Written by internationally recognized scholars in the field, this is a new and innovative contribution which will provide essential reading among researchers, educators, and graduate students interested in understanding the cognitive underpinnings of writing throughout the lifespan

About the Author

Teresa Limpo is Assistant Professor at the University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (Portugal). Her main research interest focuses on the study of the cognitive and non-cognitive factors involved in youngsters' acquisition and development of academic competences. She is author of several articles examining the cognitive and motivational processes involved in the academic skill of writing. Thierry Olive is senior Research Scientist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France). He carries out research in experimental psychology to understand the capacity of individuals to produce written language. His research investigates the cognitive underpinnings of writing in skilled adult and in children learning to write. He also studies dgtl writing tools. He has published numerous articles, chapters, books, and special issues on cognition and writing.