Numerous studies provide evidence of the relationship between executive functions and language. However, due to the complexity of executive functions and difficulties in defining and measuring them, this relationship is still not clear enough. The majority of executive functions research is based on studying child language development or language development in special populations. Because of the dynamic nature of language and executive functions, which change significantly throughout the lifespan, exploring their interactions in adulthood would contribute to a better and more complete understanding of their relationship. With that in mind, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between specific components of executive functioning and receptive language skills in adult age. The participants in the study were healthy adults (N = 30), between 21 and 37 years old. Executive functioning components of spatial working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility and cognitive inhibition were assessed with the CANTAB battery of tests, whereas verbal working memory was tested with a subtest of the WISC-III test, the Memory for Digit Span. Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III-HR) and Test for Reception of Grammar (TROG-2:HR) were administered to assess language skills. The results of the regression analysis indicate a contribution of executive functions to the comprehension of complex sentences but not to the comprehension of simple sentences and receptive vocabulary. These results suggest that the involvement of executive functions in language processing in adults is required only in the comprehension of complex sentences that put a greater demand on language processing. This finding is in agreement with similar conducted research. However, in order to draw a final conclusion on this topic, it is necessary to include older age groups, as well as a larger number of sentences with different levels of syntactic complexity.

executive functions, language, receptive vocabulary, sentence comprehension, adulthood