Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Executive functions EFs make possible mentally playing with ideas; taking the time to think before acting; meeting novel, unanticipated challenges; resisting temptations; and staying focused. The developmental progression and representative measures of each are discussed. Controversies are addressed e. The importance of social, emotional, and physical health for cognitive health is discussed because stress, lack of sleep, loneliness, or lack of exercise each impair EFs.
That EFs are trainable and can be improved with practice is addressed, including diverse methods tried thus far.
Keywords: cognitive control, self-regulation, creativity, attention, reasoning, working memory, fluid intelligence, inhibitory control, task switching, mental flexibility. There is general agreement that there are three core EFs e. EFs are skills essential for mental and physical health; success in school and in life; and cognitive, social, and psychological development see Table 1.
Thus, inhibitory control makes it possible for us to change and for us to choose how we react and how we behave rather than being unthinking creatures of habit. Indeed, we usually are creatures of habit and our behavior is under the control of environmental stimuli far more than we usually realize, but having the ability to exercise inhibitory control creates the possibility of change and choice.
It can also save us from making fools of ourselves. Inhibitory control of attention interference control at the level of perception enables us to selectively attend, focusing on what we choose and suppressing attention to other stimuli.
