Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesImportanceExecutive Function DisorderImprovingManaging Disorder

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Importance

Executive Function Disorder

Improving

Managing Disorder

Executive function describes several aspects of thinking, including planning,memory, and self-control. For most people, executive function naturally improves throughout childhood and adulthood as the brain matures and various experiences shape these abilities.

In addition to the natural improvements in executive function that you can expect to develop throughout the years, it is also possible to pay attention to the different components of your executive function and to work on improving them so you can be happier and more productive.

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Couple planning finances and projects is an example of executive function

Types of Executive Function

There are several ways that executive function is defined. It is sometimes divided into three major components—inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.There are also many other aspects of executive function, and there are overlaps between these different features. Additionally, some aspects of executive function work together.

Features of executive function may include:

These skills are functions of communication between different regions ofthe brain.Using executive function for a specific task typically involves a combination of several features.

The Importance of Executive Function

Your executive functions allow you to manage your life and interact with others effectively and enjoyably.Intellectualaspects of work and life require executive function at any age. This can include things like knowing your way around when driving, budgeting, shopping, making a schedule, and playing board games.

Executive function also helps you manage other skills that aren’t necessarily considered intellectual. For example, organizing your home, getting along with others, and sports strategies all involve executive function along with other skills.

Most people have some strengths and weaknesses in different aspects of executive function. Factors such as genetics and childhood experiences can affect executive function.You might have noticed your own strengths and weaknesses in executive function and those of other people you spend time with.

Signs of Executive Function Disorder

Many different medical conditions can affect executive function. Examples include neurodevelopmental problems,dementia,a stroke, brain damage from trauma, inflammatory brain conditions, and oxygen deprivation.

Signs of an executive function disorder include:

Keep in mind these symptoms can occur due to other issues unrelated to executive function, such ashearing loss, depression, or asleep disorder.

When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf you or someone else is noticing that your executive function is declining slowly, it’s important to make an appointment to see a doctor. You may be referred toa neurologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system).Get urgent medical attention for problems such as:Confusion about time, place, other people, or selfChanges in consciousnessErratic or dangerous behaviorDifficulty communicating

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you or someone else is noticing that your executive function is declining slowly, it’s important to make an appointment to see a doctor. You may be referred toa neurologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system).Get urgent medical attention for problems such as:Confusion about time, place, other people, or selfChanges in consciousnessErratic or dangerous behaviorDifficulty communicating

If you or someone else is noticing that your executive function is declining slowly, it’s important to make an appointment to see a doctor. You may be referred toa neurologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system).

Get urgent medical attention for problems such as:

How to Improve Executive Function

For example, most people who forget something important—such as filling the car with gas before a long trip—will remember to do it next time to avoid the inconvenience. And most psychologically healthy people who unintentionally say something that hurts another person’s feelings will not repeat the same mistake again.

Ways to improve executive function include:

It’s important to know that improvement of executive function can be a challenge if you can’t figure out what you are doing wrong. Being able to have the insight to understand why mistakes were made is also part of executive function.

If you are having problems with making bad decisions, it can be beneficial to talk to trusted and unthreatening family members, friends, or coworkers to see if they have a perspective that could help fill in the gaps for you. Sometimes, seeing a therapist can help with strategies for improving executive function.

Managing Executive Function Disorder

Just about everyone can improve their executive function. No one is perfect at thinking, memory, and self-control.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a disorder that affects executive function, it can interfere with self-care, independence, and safety.

These conditions include neurodevelopmental syndromes, psychiatric disorders, neurological conditions like dementia and others, and medical problems that affect brain function. It’s important to have comprehensive medical care to prevent the worsening of the condition, if possible, and to maximize self-care skills and safety.

Risk Factors and Complications of Executive Function Disorders

Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia

Summary

Executive function includes the skills and abilities that help you think, remember, plan, and control your behavior and attention. Many of these abilities overlap with each other, and everyone has some strengths and weaknesses of executive function.

For most people, executive function, which improves substantially during childhood and adolescence, continues to improve during adulthood too.Anyone can improve cognitive skills with attention and practice, and sometimes with feedback or counseling as well.

There are many conditions that can worsen executive function, and it’s important to get medical attention for any signs of executive function decline, at any age.

A Word From Verywell

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to executive function. These functions improve with natural brain maturation. And life experiences also enhance executive function, as people learn how to improve their reasoning and thinking.

If you would like to improve your executive function, think of it like working out to improve your physical strengths. Decide what you want to improve and why, and be optimistic as you practice and challenge yourself.

Frequently Asked QuestionsFundamental executive functions include memory and planning. There are also many features of executive function that help a person with learning and making decisions.In general, executive function improves over time. However, many health problems can affect executive function, including dementia, strokes, and certain heart and lung diseases.There are many different ways that executive functions are categorized. One of the popular ways is based on three areas—memory, planning, and inhibition.Planning a project or trip is an example of executive function. This involves a set of cognitive skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fundamental executive functions include memory and planning. There are also many features of executive function that help a person with learning and making decisions.

In general, executive function improves over time. However, many health problems can affect executive function, including dementia, strokes, and certain heart and lung diseases.

There are many different ways that executive functions are categorized. One of the popular ways is based on three areas—memory, planning, and inhibition.

Planning a project or trip is an example of executive function. This involves a set of cognitive skills.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ribner A, Devine RT, Blair C, Hughes C;NewFAMS Investigators. Mothers' and fathers' executive function both predict emergent executive function in toddlerhood.Dev Sci.2022 Mar 31. doi:10.1111/desc.13263Diamond A.Executive functions.Annu Rev Psychol.2013;64:135-68. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750Khandekar P, Shenoy S, Sathe A.Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response to acute high intensity intermittent exercise during executive function processing.J Gen Psychol.2022 Mar 15:1-28. doi:10.1080/00221309.2022.2048785Conti G, Doyle O, Fearon P, Oppedisano V.A demonstration study of theQuiet Timetranscendental meditation program.Front Psychol. 2022;12:765158. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.765158Fryer S, Paterson C, Stoner L, Brown MA, Faulkner J, Turner LA, Aguirre-Betolaza AM, Zieff G, Stone K.Leg fidgeting improves executive function following prolonged sitting with a typical Western meal: A randomized, controlled cross-over trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1357. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031357Diamond A, Ling DS.Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not.Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2016;18:34-48. doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2015.11.005

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ribner A, Devine RT, Blair C, Hughes C;NewFAMS Investigators. Mothers' and fathers' executive function both predict emergent executive function in toddlerhood.Dev Sci.2022 Mar 31. doi:10.1111/desc.13263Diamond A.Executive functions.Annu Rev Psychol.2013;64:135-68. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750Khandekar P, Shenoy S, Sathe A.Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response to acute high intensity intermittent exercise during executive function processing.J Gen Psychol.2022 Mar 15:1-28. doi:10.1080/00221309.2022.2048785Conti G, Doyle O, Fearon P, Oppedisano V.A demonstration study of theQuiet Timetranscendental meditation program.Front Psychol. 2022;12:765158. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.765158Fryer S, Paterson C, Stoner L, Brown MA, Faulkner J, Turner LA, Aguirre-Betolaza AM, Zieff G, Stone K.Leg fidgeting improves executive function following prolonged sitting with a typical Western meal: A randomized, controlled cross-over trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1357. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031357Diamond A, Ling DS.Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not.Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2016;18:34-48. doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2015.11.005

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ribner A, Devine RT, Blair C, Hughes C;NewFAMS Investigators. Mothers' and fathers' executive function both predict emergent executive function in toddlerhood.Dev Sci.2022 Mar 31. doi:10.1111/desc.13263Diamond A.Executive functions.Annu Rev Psychol.2013;64:135-68. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750Khandekar P, Shenoy S, Sathe A.Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response to acute high intensity intermittent exercise during executive function processing.J Gen Psychol.2022 Mar 15:1-28. doi:10.1080/00221309.2022.2048785Conti G, Doyle O, Fearon P, Oppedisano V.A demonstration study of theQuiet Timetranscendental meditation program.Front Psychol. 2022;12:765158. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.765158Fryer S, Paterson C, Stoner L, Brown MA, Faulkner J, Turner LA, Aguirre-Betolaza AM, Zieff G, Stone K.Leg fidgeting improves executive function following prolonged sitting with a typical Western meal: A randomized, controlled cross-over trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1357. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031357Diamond A, Ling DS.Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not.Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2016;18:34-48. doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2015.11.005

Ribner A, Devine RT, Blair C, Hughes C;NewFAMS Investigators. Mothers' and fathers' executive function both predict emergent executive function in toddlerhood.Dev Sci.2022 Mar 31. doi:10.1111/desc.13263

Diamond A.Executive functions.Annu Rev Psychol.2013;64:135-68. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750

Khandekar P, Shenoy S, Sathe A.Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response to acute high intensity intermittent exercise during executive function processing.J Gen Psychol.2022 Mar 15:1-28. doi:10.1080/00221309.2022.2048785

Conti G, Doyle O, Fearon P, Oppedisano V.A demonstration study of theQuiet Timetranscendental meditation program.Front Psychol. 2022;12:765158. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.765158

Fryer S, Paterson C, Stoner L, Brown MA, Faulkner J, Turner LA, Aguirre-Betolaza AM, Zieff G, Stone K.Leg fidgeting improves executive function following prolonged sitting with a typical Western meal: A randomized, controlled cross-over trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1357. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031357

Diamond A, Ling DS.Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not.Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2016;18:34-48. doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2015.11.005

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