Executive Functions are higher-level cognitive skills that control and coordinate other cognitive abilities and behaviors, broadly categorized into working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.

The categories of Executive Function:

1. Working Memory:

• Definition:

  The ability to hold information in mind and manipulate it for a short period, like remembering a phone number or a sequence of instructions.

• Related Skills:

  • Non-speaking working memory

  • Verbal working memory

  • Remembering information

  • Recalling information

2. Cognitive Flexibility:

• Definition:

  The ability to switch between different tasks, ideas, or perspectives, and adapt to changing situations.

• Related Skills:

  • Adaptable thinking

  • Set shifting (the ability to shift from one task to another)

  • Thinking "outside the box"

  • Seeing things from different perspectives

  • Planning

  • Problem-solving

  • Reasoning

3. Inhibitory Control:

• Definition:

  The ability to resist impulses, distractions, and inappropriate behaviors, and to focus on a task or goal.

• Related Skills:

  • Self-control

  • Impulse control

  • Emotional regulation

  • Self-monitoring

  • Focus

  • Attention

  • Self-restraint