The development of cognitive flexibility and its implications for mental health disorders

OverviewCognitive flexibility (CF) represents the ability to adapt one's thinking and behavior in response to changing environmental demands (Uddin, 2021).CF is multifaceted and involves a range of skills, including attentional shifting, strategy updating, response to feedback, reversal learning, exploration, and task switching.As a core component of executive function (EF), CF works in tandem with working memory and inhibitory control to facilitate goal-oriented behavior (Friedman & Robbins, 2022).However, this editorial will focus on the development of CF and its implications for mental health disorders.CF is also impaired in a number of mental health disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Hughes, Russell, & Robbins, 1994), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (Gottwald et al., 2018;Vaghi et al., 2017), and schizophrenia (Murray et al., 2008).CF exhibits a prolonged maturational developmental trajectory, although early precursors of these skills can already be measured from infancy. Figure 1 provides a graphical illustration of the lifespan trajectory of CF development during infancy, adolescence, young adulthood, and older adulthood.This is also important considering that many mental health disorders begin in childhood and adolescence.Here, we discuss key environmental factors that may be important for shaping CF development across different life stages and their implications for mental health.