Impaired EF does often look like difficulties with generalizing. That’s intriguing, but also feels incomplete. I’ve seen executive function described as the processes that connect past experience to present action. In fact, a twisty hamster Habitrail metaphor might be more accurate for what happens in my brain when it comes to information filtering. Just not necessarily the right information. This feels like a crude analogy and doesn’t account for the fact that processing does happen and lots of information is getting through. This hypothesizes that the input channels are much larger than the processing channels–like a funnel with a wide mouth and narrow spout–causing a back-up of information prior to processing. There’s the clogged funnel model of executive dysfunction. But how does it actually work? What’s the underlying mechanism? The “control center” analogies are good for generally understanding what executive function is responsible for. In an attempt to find an alternative to patching, I’ve been trying to get a better grasp on what executive function really is. In fact, once you understand how the parts of EF work together, it’s easier to see why patching one area might cause another area to “spring a leak.”
#Gtasks pro ongoing tasks Patch
We can’t simply patch up the most obviously deficient parts and hope that fixes everything. Harder because seeing how everything is connected means I can’t just “learn to plan” or try harder to “pay attention.” Executive function is a complex web of issues. Easier because when I understand the roots of a problem, I can figure out better workarounds. It also makes finding solutions both easier and harder. Suddenly, walking into furniture or struggling with change or having trouble focusing in a noisy environment have an identifiable cause–impaired executive function. It also sheds light on the roots of many aspects of how the autistic brain works. Once we disassemble the various components of executive function, it becomes obvious how intertwined they are. It might be more accurate to say that we’re not very good at stopping. Poor task switching is also why people will often say that autistic people are so good at doing repetitive tasks. Or to pick up where you left off on a task after being interrupted. Difficulties with task switching are what make it hard to stop playing World of Warcraft and start making dinner. Not seeing the other person’s point of view can be as simple as having difficulty seeing multiple aspects of a situation at the same time.įinally, cognitive flexibility includes task switching, which is sometimes listed as a separate component of executive function. When you think about it, there is little difference between “lack of empathy” or “impaired theory of mind” and impaired cognitive flexibility. What appears to be a fit of irrationality is actually a failure of the prefrontal cortex to cope with change in the expected way.Ĭognitive flexibility also refers to considering multiple aspects of a situation at the same time, such as seeing opposing points of view or multiple characteristics of an object. Variation in executive function capacity can explain why one day it’s not a big deal if the bus is five minutes late or your favorite shirt is in the laundry but on another day, this kind of small disruption to routine triggers a meltdown. Impaired executive function makes it harder to adapt to change by forming new thought or behavior patterns. It’s not necessarily that we don’t want to do things differently. If you’ve ever wondered where the autistic tendency toward rigid thinking and routine comes from, this is it. In a more formal sense, it’s the ability to shift your thinking or attention is in response to changes in the environment or situation (such as new rules, information, demands or goals). Looking for the other parts? Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Ĭognitive flexibility is all about change. After wrapping up the discussion of regulatory functions with some thoughts about Cognitive Flexibility, it talks a bit about some models of EF and how the various pieces fit together.
#Gtasks pro ongoing tasks series
This is part 4 in a series about executive function.
0 kommentar(er)
