Executive Function Types Problems and Improvement
Deciding on what outfit to wear, packing backpacks for school, organizing closets, interacting with classmates, and juggling schoolwork with extracurricular activities are all seemingly not-so-hard tasks the average child is supposed to be able to do.
Have you ever wondered what it takes for a child to pull off such basic everyday tasks without crumbling with its effort?
Executive functions are the critical self-regulating skills we use daily to accomplish almost everything. These abilities assist us in planning, organizing, making decisions, shifting between situations or thoughts, controlling and regulating emotions and impulsivity, learning from our mistakes, and juggling everyday tasks.
The trouble with executive function can make it hard to follow instructions, focus, and handle emotions, among a bunch of other things. This makes it hard to get by normal tasks.
Types Of Executive Functioning
The three main areas of executive function are the following:
Working Memory:
It is the small amount of information that can be kept in mind and used in the execution of cognitive tasks.
Cognitive Flexibility:
Also known as cognitive shifting, refers to your brain’s ability to adjust to new, changing, or unexpected circumstances. It is sometimes defined as the capacity to shift from one mode of thought to another. This is also referred to as task switching. We use cognitive flexibility every day without knowing it, this happens when we multitask or switch from one task to another.
Inhibitory Control:
It is the suppression of goal-irrelevant stimuli and behavioral responses. For instance, successfully suppressing tnatural behavioral response to eat ice cream when one is on a strict diet requires the use of inhibitory control.
Problems With Executive Functioning
Executive dysfunction is a term occasionally used by medical experts to describe impaired executive function. Executive dysfunction hampers the basic abilities which help one solve problems, regulate emotions, interact appropriately in social settings, etc., leading to troubled relationships at school/work/home, self-esteem issues, and lack of motivation.
There is no one set diagnosis or condition for executive function dysfunction. Instead, neurological, mental health, and behavioural conditions can impair executive function, including depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For instance, executive skills, including memory, attention, and inhibitory control may be impacted by depression.
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may occasionally become unable to drive, dress themselves up, or behave correctly in social circumstances due to significant executive function impairment.
How To Improve Executive Function?
There are eight executive functioning strategies: practising impulse control, emotional control, flexible thinking, working memory, self-monitoring, planning and prioritizing, task initiation, and organization. Working on these strategies promises a definite improvement in one’s executive functions.
Apart from this, taking steps to manage time, using a step-by-step approach to work, using organizers, checklists, calendars, etc., can also make an immense difference.
Key Takeaway!
In a nutshell, executive functions are a bunch of essential mental skills without the aid of which everyday life becomes very difficult. The development of these mental skills is not the same in every individual, and some people may have an executive function dysfunction. However, there are numerous strategies to help improve them, the regular practice of which will enhance the abilities of such people significantly.
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