Executive functions
Executive functioning describes the higher-order thinking required to negotiate daily living in an efficient manner.
Where executive functioning is impaired or delayed, this tends to result in people who are disorganised, highly forgetful, reluctant to adhere to task demands, and underperforming academically.
The part of the brain commonly associated with executive functions is called the ‘prefrontal cortex’. This short video explains how this part of the brain operates.
Renowned clinical psychologist Thomas E. Brown designates executive functions into six primary types, as shown in the graphic below.
