Inhibitory Control

Involves the ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information and resist temptations.

Examples include: 

• Controlling an impulse to stop an inappropriate behavior. 

• Resisting distractions to complete a task.

• Resisting peer-pressure and being able to identify consequences to actions.  

Cognitive Flexibility

Involves the ability to persist in a task without shifting and finding multiple ways to solve problems or see things from different perspectives.

Examples include: 

• Problem solving through taking in a different perspective. 

• Come up with various ways to solve a problem. 

• Creatively find alternate solutions. 

• Quickly adapts to changing demands or priorities. 

• Admit when you are wrong when you receive new information. 

Executive Functioning is a term that encompasses various higher-order cognitive processes including (but not limited to) 

Working Memory

Involves the ability to keep and manipulate multiple sources of information. 

Examples include: 

• Being able to creatively play with ideas and make connections. 

• Solve mental math problems. 

• Remember and complete multi-step instructions. 

• Remember a task to do when you are currently doing something else. 

Executive functioning is associated with the prefrontal cortex of our brains and is an area that begins to develop at birth.  While we are not born with these skills the potential to develop these skills is innate, but they take practice.  Numerous studies have concluded the executive functioning can be improved through support and practice. Our executive functioning continues to develop until early adulthood.  Even adults at times may find that their executive functioning is weaker in some areas than others.  All people can benefit from understanding and strengthening our executive functioning.