Brain’s Executive Functions
The tasks of the brains’ executive function are behavioral control and inhibition. These are tasks that many people with ADHD show impairment in. Sometimes taking a look at how their behaviors can be understood in terms of impaired executive function can be helpful.
click here for a pdf printout of this information in table form
These are classes or types of executive function according to behavioral science:
Working Memory (nonverbal)
- information in mind
- Manipulate multiple thoughts at the same time
- Imitate complex sequences of behavior
- Have hindsight or value past behavior
- Practice forethought—to anticipate the results of future behavior
- Be self –aware
- Organize behavioral sequences according to a “rule” or to achieve a “goal”.
Internalization of speech/silent self-talk (verbal working memory)
- Talk and think about the environment
- Self-question/problem solve
- Generate rules to guide behaviors
- Instruct oneself to follow directions/rules
- Comprehend what is read
- Have moral reasoning
Self-control of emotions, motivation, arousal
- Control one’s emotional sensitivity and reactions
- Consider other points of view
- Generate and control motivation
- Generate and control the arousal needed to for goal-directed actions
Fluency-the smooth flow of behaviors
- Organized, goal-directed and chained together seamlessly and carried out easily
- Creative but organized or structured
Clinically, what we see can include:
Working Memory (nonverbal):
- Poor short term memory
- Poor concentration
- Distractibility
- Short attention span
- Trouble learning from experience/repeating mistakes
- Poor time management
- Running late
- Poorly organized work/projects
- Daydreaming
- Missing details
- Not proof reading school work
- Talkative
- Blurts out inappropriately
- Talks to self out loud
- Noisy, disturbs others
- Poor reading comprehension
- Not liking to read
- Acting without regard for rules, though the rules are known
- Procrastination
- Trial and error problem-solving
Internalization of speech/silent self-talk (verbal working memory)Talkative
- Blurts out inappropriately
- Talks to self out loud
- Noisy, disturbs others
- Poor reading comprehension
- Not liking to read
- Acting without regard for rules, though the rules are known
- Procrastination
- Trial and error problem-solving
Self-control of emotions, motivation, arousal
- Moody
- Oversensitive
- Over-reacts
- Hot/short-tempered
- Low motivation
- Trouble seeing other viewpoints
- Stubborn, prefers self-selected tasks
- Hyper or hypo active
- Fidgety
- Cannot turn thoughts off
- Thinks too much/worries excessively
- Cannot match activity to goals
- Too loud
- Impulsive
- Poor verbal expression and oral reading
- Poor movement control and fluency
- Clumsy/awkward
- Accident prone
- Printing instead of cursive
- Twitches/jerks
Fluency-the smooth flow of behaviors that are:
- Impulsive
- Poor verbal expression and oral reading
- Poor movement control and fluency
- Clumsy/awkward
- Accident prone
- Printing instead of cursive
- Twitches/jerks
click here for a pdf printout of this information in table form
Adapted from Berkley, RA (1997) ADHD and the nature of self-control, NY, Guilford Press and Barkley RA (1998) Attention-Deficit Hyepractivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment (2nd edition) NY Guilford Press and developed by EJ Cobb, PhD Adolescent Health cetner, Midlothian VA