Executive functions (EFs) are cognitive processes that support flexible goal pursuit. Healthy development of EFs during childhood is critical for later life outcomes including health, wealth and educational attainment. As such it is crucial to understand how EFs can be supported and protected against insult. Here we examine whether there are sensitive periods in the development of EFs, by drawing on deprivation and enrichment studies in humans. While there is suggestive evidence that pre-6 months of age constitutes a sensitive period for EF development, given the higher-order nature of EF, we argue for the possibility of multiple sensitive periods of constituent processes. We identify relevant future questions and outline a research agenda to systematically test for sensitive period in EF development.

执行功能（EF）是支持灵活目标追求的认知过程。儿童期 EF 的健康发展对于以后的生活结果（包括健康、财富和教育程度）至关重要。因此，了解如何支持和保护 EF 免受侮辱至关重要。在这里，我们利用人类的剥夺和富集研究来检验 EF 的发展是否存在敏感期。虽然有暗示性证据表明 6 个月前是 EF 发展的敏感期，但考虑到 EF 的高阶性质，我们认为构成过程可能存在多个敏感期。我们确定了相关的未来问题并概述了一个研究议程，以系统地测试 EF 开发中的敏感期。