Decades of research on Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral, and Psychological Flexibility: A scientometric analysis of trends and knowledge clusters towards a shared definition of Mental Flexibility

<h2>Abstract</h2> Research on Cognitive, Psychological, Behavioral, and Affective Flexibility has been extensive, yet integrating these perspectives -spanning neuroscientific and psychological domains in both human and non-human animals-remains a challenge. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive scientometric analysis, mapping the complex and interconnected body of scientific knowledge and tracing the evolution of trends over time. Our study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection, retrieving 13,550 documents published between 1985 and 2024. Using RStudio and CiteSpace, the analysis revealed an average citation rate of 32 per document, indicating the studies' impact and ongoing relevance within the scholarly community. The co-citation network provided insights into the thematic structure of the field, revealing three distinct clusters: The clinical dimension of Flexibility emerged as a central node, effectively bridging the gap between behavioral studies (often involving animal models) and cognitive neuroscience research (focused on executive functions and central neurological processes). The keyword trends analysis revealed temporal shifts in research focus, beginning with the neuroscientific exploration of neural correlates in the mid-1990s, followed by a growing interest in neuropsychological applications related to Cognitive Flexibility, and, more recently, a surge in research on Psychological Flexibility, particularly in relation to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. These results underscore the need for a unified conceptual framework that integrates these diverse facets of Flexibility, leading to the development of Mental Flexibility as an overarching construct characterized by adaptive variability across cognitive, emotional, neurological, and behavioral domains.