The relationship between executive functioning and verbal and visual learning and memory

Executive functions, which include an individual’s ability to develop a response set, inhibit behaviors, plan, and reason, likely impact other areas of cognitive functioning, such as learning and memory. The present study examined the relationship between executive functioning and a wide array of standardized, clinical verbal and visual learning and memory measures in 212 patients referred for a neuropsychological evaluation. IQ was also included in the analyses. Results of the canonical correlation analyses indicated that the two cognitive domains shared 55–60% of variance, and two canonical variates were present. Although causality cannot be inferred, a clear and robust relationship between executive functioning and memory is evident, and clinicians should consider this overlap when interpreting poor performance among these two domains.