What is executive dysfunction?
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Imagine your brain as a workplace with lots of employees that do different things
Executive function is like the “manager”, they decide what tasks should be prioritized based on information they receive. Yes there’s tasks that most parts do without the manager telling them explicitly, but when information comes in that necessitates focus be shifted from normal duties to take care of something in particular, it’s this “manager” that makes those decisions
This controls things like what you focus on, prioritize, etc
You’ve likely heard of executive functioning in the context of ADHD being about having poor executive functioning. This is why those with ADHD struggle to focus or prioritize well, and why they’re prone to hyper focus on certain things. It’s like the “manager” is showing up to work after a long night with too little sleep and isn’t exactly at the top of their game with decision making, so they may be prone to making poor decisions on what to focus on. This is also why stimulants are prescribed for ADHD, it’s like giving that sleepy manager a cup of coffee so they’re more awake and able to perform their job better
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