This narrative review addresses the neural bases of two executive functions: criterion setting, that is, the capacity to flexibly set up and select task rules and associations between stimuli, responses, and nonresponses, and monitoring, that is, the process of continuously evaluating whether task rules are being applied optimally. There is a documented tendency for criterion setting and monitoring to differentially recruit left and right lateral prefrontal regions and connected networks, respectively, above and beyond the specific task context. This model, known as the ROtman–Baycrest Battery to Investigate Attention model, initially sprung from extensive neuropsychological work leaded by Don Stuss. In subsequent years, multimodal lines of empirical investigation on both healthy individuals and individuals with brain damage, coming from functional neuroimaging, EEG, neurostimulation, individual difference approaches, and, again, neuropsychology, so to “complete the circle,” corroborated the functional mapping across the two hemispheres as predicted by the model. More recent electrophysiological evidence has further shown that hemispheric differences in intrinsic prefrontal dynamics are able to predict cognitive performance in tasks tapping these domain-general functions. These empirical contributions will be presented together with contrasting evidence, limits, and possible future directions to better fine-tune this model and extend its scope to new fields.

这篇叙述性评论涉及两种执行功能的神经基础：标准设置，即灵活设置和选择任务规则以及刺激、反应和无反应之间的关联的能力，以及监控，即持续评估是否执行任务的过程。任务规则得到最佳应用。标准设置和监控有记录的趋势，分别在特定任务上下文之上和之外分别招募左侧和右侧外侧前额叶区域和连接网络。这个模型被称为 ROtman-Baycrest Battery to Investigate Attention 模型，最初源自 Don Stuss 领导的广泛的神经心理学工作。在随后的几年中，对健康个体和脑损伤个体的多模式实证研究，来自功能性神经影像学、脑电图、神经刺激、个体差异方法以及神经心理学，因此为了“完成圆圈”，证实了模型预测的跨两个半球的功能映射。最近的电生理学证据进一步表明，内在前额叶动力学的半球差异能够预测利用这些领域一般功能的任务的认知表现。这些实证贡献将与对比证据、限制和可能的未来方向一起呈现，以更好地微调该模型并将其范围扩展到新领域。”证实了模型预测的跨两个半球的功能映射。最近的电生理学证据进一步表明，内在前额叶动力学的半球差异能够预测利用这些领域一般功能的任务的认知表现。这些实证贡献将与对比证据、限制和可能的未来方向一起呈现，以更好地微调该模型并将其范围扩展到新领域。”证实了模型预测的跨两个半球的功能映射。最近的电生理学证据进一步表明，内在前额叶动力学的半球差异能够预测利用这些领域一般功能的任务的认知表现。这些实证贡献将与对比证据、限制和可能的未来方向一起呈现，以更好地微调该模型并将其范围扩展到新领域。