Executive functions, defined as higher-level cognitive functions, allow lower-level control and regulation to achieve future goals, which are essential for social functioning. Executive function deficits are crucial for understanding bipolar disorder. In the literature, many studies have indicated that patients with bipolar disorder have impairments in theory of mind and social cognition, but there are few direct investigations of executive function deficits. Our study will focus on executive function deficits at different developmental stages in bipolar disorder, related neural mechanisms in bipolar disorder, and the association with social functioning. Executive function deficit in bipolar disorder could happen at different developmental stages of life, and different types of bipolar disorder are accompanied with different neural abnormalities and executive deficits. Moreover, executive function and social cues are closely related. While research about executive function and social functioning is scarce, most of the studies inquire into the correlation between these two, rather than causation. We need furthermore detailed and longitude studies on executive function and social functioning.

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