Executive functions (EF) constitute a large conglomerate of cognitive abilities that, as their name indicates, carry out decisive actions in decision-making and human behavior. They are of a cognitive and socio-emotional nature, they coordinate the input and output information to regulate the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions of a task to be performed. Alexander Luria raises its conceptualization at the beginning of the seventies, being Muriel Lezak the one in charge of its scientific dissemination. In this article, a bibliographic compilation on EFs, their best known theoretical models, their neuropsychological evaluation process, the most common disorders and the most relevant studies in recent years is made.
frontal lobe
Construcción teórica neuropsicológica de las funciones ejecutivas. Theoretical neuropsychological construction of executive functions
Palabras clave: Corteza prefrontal,
flexibilidad mental,
Funciones Ejecutivas,
lóbulo frontal,
Memoria de Trabajo,
Futbolistas Talentosos, el Gran Secreto Está en el Cerebro: La Gran Tragedia del Marshal y la Suerte de los Magos con un Sistema Nervioso Indemne. Talented Soccer Players, The Big Secret Is In The Brain: The Great Tragedy Of The Star Player And The Fate Of Magicians With A Preserved Nervous Systems.
In previous work, we have presented case studies from fascinating films for the eye of the neuropsychologist;1,2,3 continuing with this line of research, we describe here for your consideration a critical analysis of the role of brain functions in one of the most fascinating sports, soccer. In this analysis, we will look more closely at the brain damage suffered by the great footballer Salvador Cabañas and the role of the highly complex brain functions that allow the magical players to stand out in this sport. In the next pages, we present the case of Salvador Cabañas, both before and after his cerebral accident, and later we analyze the cerebral functions that are activated in brilliant players like Messi or Ronaldinho. We conclude this article by reflecting on the role of the brain in our normal human activities, and how catastrophic it becomes on a daily basis when our brain tissue is damaged so that as a result of this condition we can lose everything.
