Sorry, you're not invited to this executive function.
Howdy Wise Squirrel,
It's weird to think that it wasn't that long ago when I first heard the term "executive function," I would immediately imagine the fancy first-class dinner scene in Titanic.
Such a function would attract corporate executive types and their partners dressed to the nines in tuxedos and ballroom attire for an exclusive evening affair of handshake deals, dancing, and drinking a touch too much of the Macallan Lalique Single Malt Scotch Whisky (or so I’m told).
I assumed attending such an event, working the room well, and coming away with a lucrative new deal would be a fine example of excellent "executive function skills." I assumed wrong.
Before being diagnosed and treated for ADHD, I felt like I was in another fateful, dire scene in Titanic (you know the one). Luckily, I now know I am a wise squirrel and have learned a bunch about what executive function is… kinda.
Kinda because there isn't an official definition of executive functions, but esteemed thought leaders in the ADHD medical space like Dr. Russell Barkley and Dr. Thomas Brown have a pretty good handle on it. Here's how they describe executive function skills (EF for short).
EF According to Brown.
Dr. Thomas E. Brown's model of executive function describes six clusters of cognitive processes that form the brain's management system. These processes, often impaired in us, work together to manage daily tasks. Below is a summary of each cluster:
Activation: Involves organizing tasks and materials, estimating time, prioritizing, and starting work. Wise Squirrels often procrastinate excessively, delaying tasks until they feel an urgent need to act.
Focus: Refers to focusing attention, maintaining focus, and shifting focus as needed. Many with ADHD experience "fading" attention, comparable to a weak radio signal, and struggle with distractions from external and internal sources. Reading often requires re-reading to fully comprehend. So many paragraphs, so many repeated reads!
Effort: Covers regulating alertness, sustaining effort, and processing speed. Those with ADHD may excel in short-term projects but struggle with sustained effort, meeting deadlines, and regulating sleep and alertness.
Emotion: Involves managing frustration and modulating emotions. While not officially recognized as a core ADHD symptom in DSM-5, individuals with ADHD frequently report difficulty controlling emotions like anger, frustration, or anxiety, which can dominate their thoughts and disrupt focus. I can attest to the anxiety part. :/
Memory: Includes utilizing working memory and accessing recall. People with ADHD may forget recent information or tasks (e.g., where they put something) while recalling long-ago events clearly. They often struggle to keep information "online" while performing other tasks or retrieving learned information when needed.
Action: Focuses on monitoring and regulating self-action. This includes controlling impulsive behaviors, modifying actions based on social context, and adjusting the speed of actions for specific tasks. ADHD often results in impulsive responses and difficulty gauging the effects of one's actions on others.
EF According to Barkley.
Dr. Russell Barkley defines ADHD as fundamentally a disorder of self-regulation (SR) and executive functioning (EF). He views EF as a set of self-directed actions essential for managing behavior and achieving long-term goals. Here is a summary of his model:
Self-Regulation and ADHD:
Self-regulation, the ability to modify one's behavior to achieve future goals, is significantly impaired in individuals with ADHD, leading to challenges with inhibition, self-awareness, motivation, and emotional control.
Executive Functions as Self-Regulation:
EF encompasses specific self-directed actions like:
Inhibition (self-restraint).
Self-awareness (self-directed attention).
Working memory (self-speech and self-imagery).
Emotional regulation (self-directed emotional control).
Problem-solving (self-directed play or manipulation of ideas).
ADHD represents developmental delays in these abilities rather than a complete loss of function.
Temporal Myopia:
People with ADHD experience "temporal myopia," prioritizing immediate rewards over future goals, and rely on external structures and immediate feedback to manage this challenge.
Deficits in Motivation:
Internally generated motivation is often insufficient in ADHD, necessitating externalized sources (e.g., tokens, rewards) to drive behavior.
Implications for Intervention:
Support for individuals with ADHD should center on modifying environments to externalize time, rules, and motivators at the point of performance. Frequent, immediate feedback and environmental cues are more effective than verbal instructions or delayed rewards, while medication can temporarily address the neural deficits affecting executive function.
Barkley emphasizes that ADHD is best understood as Self-Regulation Deficit Disorder (SRDD), deeply intertwined with EF impairments. Effective management requires external support and accommodations to compensate for these challenges.
Considering both of these reputable doctors' definitions, I've settled on the following. What do you think?
It’s not a gathering of prestigious squirrels, but we should do that.
Executive Function is the brain's management system, allowing individuals to regulate their behavior, emotions, and thoughts to meet short- and long-term goals. It encompasses self-regulation abilities, including inhibition, working memory, emotional control, planning, self-monitoring, and persistence, which work together to navigate complex tasks and environments like driving a massive passenger ship through a foggy night. Impairments, such as those in ADHD, reflect challenges in these interconnected processes, often requiring environmental adaptations and support.
We have a link to a free executive function questionnaire you can try unless you're still thinking about the swanky evening affair, in which case I recommend assessing yourself with a full-length mirror and maybe a hair and wardrobe assistant if you're one of those one-percenter wealthy executives. In that case, I humbly request this small token of appreciation if you found this article helpful or mildly entertaining. Deal?
Learn all about Executive Function from our brilliant podcast guests here.
Happy Holidays,
Dave.