Brain Anatomy 101: Executieve functions

What Are Executive Functions?

Executive functions is an umbrella term for a set of cognitive processes that enable a person to carry out goal-directed behavior. Over the years, many different functions have been described, but researchers have generally agreed on four core executive functions that encompass them all:

1. Inhibitory Control (Impulse Control)

Response inhibition is the ability to think before acting, using self-reflection and filtering incoming impulses. This is also referred to as metacognition. Emotional regulation (including managing stress) and self-regulation—such as suppressing unwanted behavior—also play an important role.

2. Working Memory

The ability to store, process, and recall information. Working memory holds information we receive through our senses as well as information from long-term memory. It allows us not only to retain (“park”) information but also to work with it—meaning we can manipulate that information.

3. Cognitive Flexibility

The ability to adapt when things change. This includes behavioral, motor, and cognitive flexibility. It also involves shifting attention between tasks and viewing situations from different perspectives.

4. Planning

The ability to choose and make decisions, set priorities, act in a structured way, manage time, stay motivated, organize attention toward a goal, and monitor oneself.

Among the most researched executive functions are inhibitory control and working memory. In this blog, I will explore these in more depth—especially because I am often asked questions like:

• Why can’t I concentrate?

• Why can’t I retain information in the short term?

• Why do I struggle to regulate my emotions?

Gaining more insight into the brain structures involved in these functions is a step closer to understanding—and possibly solving—these challenges.

Inhibitory Control and Brain Activity

In adults, inhibitory control (the ability to suppress unwanted behavior) primarily involves the right ventral prefrontal cortex and the pre-supplementary motor area. The more active these brain regions are, the better a person is at controlling impulses.

In children and adolescents, however, activity in these areas is still relatively low. Instead, they show activity in other parts of the prefrontal cortex. Because these systems are still developing, younger individuals often have more limited impulse control.

Working Memory and Brain Activity

Studies in adults show that activating working memory leads to activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex. For language-based tasks, activity is more prominent in the left hemisphere of the brain. For spatial tasks, activity is more dominant in the right hemisphere. In general, both hemispheres are involved.

Holding and manipulating information rely on different parts of the lateral prefrontal cortex. When information is simply retained, more activity occurs in the front regions. When that information needs to be manipulated, more activity is seen in the back regions.

The stronger the activity in the prefrontal cortex, the more effectively working memory functions.

In adolescents, when information needs to be held in working memory, activity is mainly seen in the lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. Research shows that this activity strengthens throughout adolescence.

However, when it comes to manipulating information, activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is still relatively weak compared to adults. This is one of the reasons why adults are generally better at retaining and manipulating information.