I´m an aspie, and I read several times that the main disfunction in Asperger´s is in “executive functions”, but I never understand what that means. I know it is related to memery, planning, etc., but I don´t get what is the thing that unify all that things and makes them get in one single “class”.
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Executive function is the ability to control, direct, suppress, or focus your thoughts and behaviors.
For example, suppose that you are having a lovely time sitting on your couch, but you have something you need to do in the next hour. Executive function allows you to say “okay, I don’t want to sit on this couch, but I will decide to get off the couch and do the thing so that I don’t have a more unpleasant experience later”. Or you’re getting a shot at the doctor’s: you know that the shot is not dangerous, but your instincts do not, and you have to suppress the behavioral urge to recoil from the shot.
A more specifically autistic example would be “there is a tag on my shirt scratching at my back, but I want to focus on this other thing that is important right now”. A non-autistic person has no trouble filtering out that sensation and directing their attention to the task, while many autistic people will find the mild sensation very distracting.
Executive functioning is actually a range of things. Basically your brain is really complicated and has loads going on at once. The role of a properly developed executive functioning system is to override lots of other things so you can get stuff done. A scenario would be in a class room at school, the teacher asks you to answer 5 questions from page 39 in 15 minutes and what you don’t finish you do for homework and bring tomorrow. Except you have a fun event tonight. And your friend behind you wants to pass you a note. The label on your t shirt itches. You are in a bad mood because someone was mean to another student. You executive function kicks in: it gets you to self monitor – you assess what is most important right now the task, the other student, your friend. Self control & emotional regulation- can you ignore the sensation of the label on the t-shirt? If not can you do something effective? Calms your emotional state regarding the mean student. Task initiation, how is it best to start the task the teacher has given? Read the questions first or the chapter. Flexibility- can you multi task by taking the note while starting the task from the teacher? Planning and time management – how long to spend on each question the teacher has given, do you have time to read the note? If you don’t finish when might you do the homework? What may the consequences of failure be? Working memory- can you remember what you were asked to do to begin with?
Our executive functioning developes over time, for some people it’s not fully developed until early 20’s. If you are neurodiverse then this can affect elements of executive functioning too due to the way your brain is wired.
Executive function comes down to planning, scheduling and attention – think of it like your brain’s personal assistant.
Its supposed to schedule your time, prioritise your tasks, screen out distractions and get you to focus on important things.
In medicine executive function is affected in many conditions – autism (often the difficulty here is in filtering out stimuli), adhd (organisation and concentration), addiction (behavioural control), depression (often effects planning and motivation).
Another place we test executive function is in elderly people with dementia or other cognitive decline – here we sometimes use things like the “tea and toast test” for executive function – can the person organise themselves and their surroundings to make a cup of tea and some toast. People who sometimes do quite ok on screening tests for dementia (often quite intelligent / educated folks) will be totally unable to do this, showing the problem with their executive functioning.
Executive functions (often referred to as cognitive control) is an array of cognitive processes in which are nessisary for the control of behavior. Basic cognitive processes include working memory, attention span, response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, etc. When certain groups of cognitive processes work together, it creates a higher-order executive function (i.g. fluid intelligence, ability to plan, etc.) In simpler terms, executive functions allow behavioral control.
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