Executive Dysfunction
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/ɪɡˈzek.jə.t̬ɪv dɪsˈfʌŋk.ʃən/
A brain that’s running smoothly should feel like a video without lags or a record without scratches. In some cases, though, our minds might hit a snag—instead of regularly flowing thoughts, it’s like a big buffering symbol or a song that keeps skipping on the same part. That’s what executive dysfunction is: a disruption to certain brain processes that help us remember what we’re doing in the moment and control our thoughts, emotions, and behavior. These executive functions (things like learning to focus on one task or remembering where you stashed something important) are typically developed throughout childhood.
It’s still being studied, but researchers know that executive dysfunction comes courtesy of various mental and physical health conditions, and manifests differently depending on the condition. For example, people with ADHD may get easily distracted, while people with addictions might struggle with inhibition control. But dysfunction can also accompany anxiety and depression, because your brain is focusing on immediate needs rather than higher-level resources. It also goes hand in hand with diseases like Alzheimer’s.
A lapse can happen to anyone from time to time. “If you’ve ever struggled to make a decision when hungry or reread the same paragraph when tired or stressed, you’ve experienced a disruption in your executive function,” explains Rebecca Jackson, cognitive specialist and author of Back of Track. But occasional disruptions like these don’t mean you have executive dysfunction. “We all experience fluctuations,” Jackson says. “Individuals with executive dysfunction face these challenges daily.”
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