Enhancing Executive Functions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Neuroplasticity-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review using Lina's Book as an Index Framework

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of neuroplasticity-based interventions in enhancing executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 6–10 years. Guided by PRISMA 2020 methodology, it synthesizes evidence from eight eligible studies published between 2021 and 2025. The review highlights working memory as the most consistently improved domain, supported by high-certainty evidence, with moderate-certainty evidence for gains in inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and transfer effects to language and academic readiness. The study is the first to evaluate existing interventions through the lens of a structured clinical framework "Lina’s Book" which integrates graded task progression, prompt fading, adaptive feedback, and visual-lexical scaffolds. By mapping interventions to these principles, the review bridges the gap between neuroscience-driven theory and real-world clinical practice. The findings underscore the potential of neuroplasticity-based approaches to improve cognitive and educational outcomes in autistic children and provide a practical evidence-based guide for clinicians, educators, and program developers.