Information About Disordered Executive Function

Executive function relates to the broad set of skills and mental capabilities human beings use to rely on to make critical decisions for themselves in performing tasks and interacting with others. A disordered executive function makes it difficult for a person to manage incoming information and make everyday or important decisions for their own wellbeing. Clear thinking and healthy mood regulation depends on a proper working prefrontal cortex area of the brain.

Disordered executive function or executive dysfunction is not a specific medical diagnosis but rather a condition that is associated with other neurological and behavioral disorders such as ADD, ADHD and depression.

Executive Function and Prefrontal Cortex of the Brain

The part of the brain responsible for executive function is the prefrontal cortex. This region of the brain is located in the front of the head (forehead) and surrounding areas.

Some of the duties of the prefrontal cortex include:

  • planning

  • organization

  • mental focus and concentration

  • behavior and emotional management

  • critical thinking and problem solving

  • analyzation and process of information

  • calculations

  • error detection

  • working and spatial memory and recall

  • multitasking

Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5), does not consider executive dysfunction a specific mental health condition. The dysregulation of the executive area of the brain is affected and symptomatic of many other mental health conditions.

There are many examples of how depression can affect a persons ability to manage emotions and maintain their attention and interest. Dementia patients have difficulty with remembering and interacting normally with others. While those with ADD get easily distracted and lack the focus needed to finish certain tasks. These are just a few examples of how a dysregulated executive function negatively impacts behaviors and the brains ability to optimally perform.

Symptoms

Executive Function dysregulation will present itself in ways that could involve:

  • difficulty paying attention

  • difficulty listening and understanding

  • lack of focus and mental clarity

  • difficulty problem solving

  • learning from past experiences and making the same mistakes

  • multi tasking and balancing of work deficits

  • lack of recall and short term memory issues

  • poor management of emotions

  • impulsivity

  • inappropriate social behaviors

Most executive functioning issues are traced from early childhood development and if left untreated or go unnoticed may lead to:

  • mood dysregulation

  • low self-esteem

  • avoiding certain tasks which would lead to further growth

  • difficulty making friends and maintaining relationships

  • make it difficult to perform in school or at work

Causes of Executive Function Dysregulation

Conditions that contribute to disordered executive function could include:

  • ADHD

  • autism

  • Alzheimer’s disease

  • Tourette syndrome

  • anxiety and depression

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • bipolar disorder

  • schizophrenia

  • concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI)

There are other issues that can arise that will result in a temporary executive function dysregulation like:

  • drugs and alcohol

  • severe pain

  • exhaustion

  • stress

Disordered Executive Function and ADHD Link

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the executive functioning regions of the brain that deal with impulsivity, attention and hyperactivity. All of these behaviors can vary in terms of severity and type of ADHD.

Symptoms of disordered executive functioning found in ADHD can include:

  • forgetfulness

  • short attention span

  • being easily distracted

  • having difficulty focusing, organizing and completing tasks

  • excessive talking and being restless and fidgety

  • social inappropriate behaviors in speaking, gestures and conduct

  • interrupting others while they are speaking or during other activities

Treatments

There are plenty of effective treatments for executive functioning issues. But it depends on what is causing the dysregulation and it’s severity. A progressive neurological disorder like dementia can only be slowed down and will continue to progress as time goes on. Whereas, anxiety or depression as a result of executive function issues can be directly treated with other therapies like neurofeedback.

Treatable mental health conditions that involve executive function disorder can be successfully treated with other therapies that include:

  • cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

  • occupational and speech therapy

  • neurofeedback therapy

The executive function region of the human brain represents the most evolved and developed cognition ability of all the species of life on earth. It’s what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Our ability to think critically, plan, learn, focus, concentrate, make decisions, remember, feel, sense and manage time all involve executive functioning and a well coordinated prefrontal cortex.

Most of our mental health concerns are a direct or indirect result of dysregulated executive function. The importance of maintaining optimal brain health throughout our lives should involve yearly doctor visits, diet, exercise, sleep, reading, puzzles and games will challenge the prefrontal cortex and strengthen our executive function.

-A Balanced Brain is a Better Brain-

Jon Stuart