Executive function refers to a set of cognitive (brain/thinking) processes that are necessary for the control of behaviour — essentially, the brain’s management system. These processes are primarily associated with the prefrontal cortex of the brain (behind your forehead) and allow a person to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, juggle multiple tasks, and regulate impulses and emotions.
Executive functions include (but are not limited to):
Working Memory – The ability to hold and manipulate information in your mind over short periods (I am looking for Smith St, the 3rd on the left, that is Jones St, so it must be the next street”).
Cognitive Flexibility – The ability to shift your thinking or adapt to new demands, rules, or priorities; e.g. ability to tolerate interruptions or changes to your schedule.
Inhibitory (Impulse) Control – The capacity to suppress automatic, impulsive behaviour or emotional responses in favour of more appropriate ones.
These functions are critical for successful goal-directed behaviour (basically, anything that isn’t biologically automatic) and are involved in so many everyday tasks like:
- Making decisions
- Organising and planning
- Prioritising tasks
- Managing time
- Regulating emotions and behaviour
Several neurodevelopmental diagnoses, including ADHD, can evidence differences in executive functioning. This definition is based on current neuroscience and psychological research and aligns with descriptions from authoritative sources such as the American Psychological Association, Harvard Center on the Developing Child, and neuropsychological literature.
As always, if you find that you’re struggling to understand your behaviours or find you’re frequently frustrated with your decision making, please consider getting some additional support. Deb is a clinical psychologist and lives with ADHD. Deb has the ADHD benefit of hyperfocus, so has deep dived the heck out of ADHD. Deb is always here to help you adjust to living with a recent ADHD diagnosis. If you aren’t diagnosed but suss that you have ADHD, Deb can help you decide if formal diagnosis is likely to be beneficial to you. NB: Whilst a clinical psychologist can diagnose ADHD, currently, you must have a psychiatrist diagnosis to access medication for ADHD. As such, Deb won’t waste your money on expensive assessments. And in most circumstances, you will not need an expensive cognitive assessment for an ADHD diagnosis. Deb offers in clinic appointments and telehealth (video) sessions for those not able to conveniently get to Watsonia.
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