The Function and Dysfunction of my Executive Function

Executive function is often thought to occur in the frontal lobes of the brain and it is responsible for the decision making functions and cognitive abilities that allow for us to function in changing situations and allow us to anticipate outcomes of behaviors (Stirling, 2002). Executive functions are looked at as high level abilities such as focusing attention on a specific activity or performing complex tasks. The dorsolateral area and the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex are vital to executive functioning and damage to these areas can result in significant dysfunctions (Antshel & Waisbren, 2003).

Dysfunctions in executive functioning is often caused by lesions to the prefrontal cortex and often demonstrates with a loss of organizational strategies, challenges in formulating plans, and impaired social judgment but does not necessarily mean there is a loss in overall intelligence (Andrewes, 2002). Inappropriate behaviors such as making verbal comments to a person that one would otherwise keep to himself (such as saying “hey you look fat in that dress”) or acting with urges rather than restraint are common in those with executive function disorders. There are a variety of psychological disorders that are also associated with impaired executive functions such as attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, depression, schizophrenia, or obsessive compulsive disorders.

There are a variety of neuropsychological test batteries that can be used to detect executive dysfunction such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Boston Naming Test, the Stroop Color-Word Test, the Trail Making Test-Parts A and B, Visual Spatial Learning Test, Controlled Oral Word Association subtest, California Verbal Learning Test, Visual Reproduction, and subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Busch, Booth, and McBride, 2005). These tests are useful in assessing executive tasks, global functioning, and fluid intelligence capacities ( De Frias, Dixon, & Strauss, 2006).

Andrewes, D. (2002) Neuropsychology: From theory to practice. New York: Psychology Press.

Antshel, K. & Waisbren, S. (2003). Timing is everything: Executive functions in children exposed to elevated levels of phenylalanine. Neuropsychology, 17(3), 458-468.

Busch, R. M., Booth, J. E., & McBride, A. (2005). Role of executive functioning in verbal and visual memory. Neuropsychology, 19(2), 171-180.

De Frias, C. M., Dixon, R. A., & Strauss, E. (2006). Structure of four executive functioning tests in healthy older adults. Neuropsychology, 20(2), 206-214.

Stirling, J. (2002). Introducing neuropsychology. New York: Psychology Press.

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