This is your ability to control your own actions, behaviours and thoughts. This skill helps all of us stay on task, especially when we would rather be doing something else. Like after the holidays, when you are trying to be really healthy and resist that last piece of chocolate cake (even though you really want it!). You are using those inhibition skills!
Even cookie monster knows the importance of delayed gratification...
What are Executive Functions?
Inhibition
This is your ability to hold information in your mind and manipulate it. Information can be visual-spatial (remembering places) or verbal (remembering instructions). Working memory is a work space to hold all those great ideas in mind and work with them.
Think about your favourite drink (for us that’s coffee!)
Pour it into a cup
Move the cup to your right
Make your cup pink
This is how you actively manipulate information in your mind, using your working memory!
Working Memory
Cognitive Flexibility
This is your ability to change your response depending on what the environment is like. As a teacher, you often use your cognitive flexibility skills to ensure all students are successful - “How can I change what I am doing to present the information differently?”
Look at the picture below. What animal do you see?
A duck?
A rabbit?
Now can you flip between the two animals?
You are using your cognitive flexibility skills to change your perspective.
“EFs are important to just about every aspect of life”
Diamond, 2013
These include reasoning, problem solving and planning. Using the skills discussed above (inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility), you can begin to set realistic goals and work towards them.
Higher Order Skills
