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EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS
Preserving executive functions
Daily training to improve planning and decision-making.
Strengthening priority management
Optimize organization and time management.
Applications in everyday life
Improve decision-making and management of day-to-day tasks.
Executive functions are a set of high-level cognitive processes that enable us to perform complex tasks and activities or solve problems.
Executive functions also enable us to automate certain tasks. This automation enables our brains to focus their attention on the more complicated elements, without making any effort on the simpler ones.
These skills are considered by experts to be the biological foundations of learning.
What is an executive function?
Executive functions are the mental mechanisms that enable us to control our thoughts, actions and emotions.
They enable us to function, to carry out in the world what our intelligence commands. Indeed, when we have a good memory, self-control and flexibility, we can act successfully.
When we have to solve a task or a problem, we use our executive functions. Our brain is capable of taking in all the information in the environment, and all the information already in our possession. Then, it elaborates this information to find the best strategy and implement the chosen strategy.
In addition, we can perform automatic activities. This allows our brain to use its attentional resources on other things. For example, learning to ride a bike may take time, but once we’ve learned, we do it without thinking about it. While cycling, we don’t concentrate on how to move our legs or keep our balance, but only on the environment and the road.
Executive function disorders
Executive dysfunction occurs when it is difficult or impossible to filter stimuli from the environment. These disorders may be linked to pathologies or to cranial trauma.
The quality of life of a person with executive function disorders is greatly impacted by these difficulties. The disorders may affect cognitive functions or behavior, making it difficult for the person to adapt to new situations.
Symptoms may include an inability to plan a strategy or organize steps to follow. Another difficulty is related to memory, which can manifest itself as forgetting the steps to follow or an inability to elaborate information in the immediate future. Finally, we can see that a person is mentally inflexible, making it difficult to change his or her reasoning, to look for alternative solutions or to correct himself or herself.
Behaviorally, the disorder manifests itself as motor agitation and verbal or motor impulsivity.
Exercises to improve executive functions
There are many activities to train cognitive functions. You can play puzzles or logic games (crosswords, sudoku, etc.). These activities enable you to look for strategies, plan actions in a logical order or adapt to feedback.
Card decks are very useful when you need to remember information immediately, such as which cards have already been played.
Our games for working executive functions
- Silly Sequence
- Hunting Intruders
- Brainstorming
- Puzzle Plus
- Twins
- Crowded Parking Lot
- Snowball effect
- Silly Sequence
- Hunting Intruders
- Relibulle
- Brainstorming
- A Card A Date
- Puzzle Plus
- Twins
- Crowded Parking Lot
- Snowball effect
- Silly Sequence
- Hunting Intruders
- Brainstorming
- A Card A Date
- Puzzle Plus
- Twins
- Crowded Parking Lot
- Snowball effect
In general, we can say that executive functions are based on 4 concepts:
1. Mental flexibility
This function defines the ability to change task or mental strategy, and to switch from one cognitive operation to another.
Before an activity, we think about the best solution to implement, but during the activity we may need to change strategy. We adapt our behavior according to the feedback we receive or the new elements that may come into play.
This skill enables us to adapt, not just to focus on one solution, but to analyze several possibilities.
Syllabus
In this game, the player combines syllables to create words.
You have to think of all the possible combinations, and therefore change the syllables to be used several times. There are several possible strategies that can be changed during the game.
2. Managing thoughts and emotions
Thanks to our autobiographical memory, we can recreate the context in which an event took place.
Creating a context helps us to have more coherent and accurate memories. Creating an environmental context also increases the amount of information linked to an event, enabling us to retrieve other memories and information.
Mamie Cuisine
In this game, the player has to memorize the ingredients of a recipe.
We need to manage our thoughts well, because we have to think about the proposed ingredients, bearing in mind that we may know a variation of this recipe with other ingredients. You have to select which thought you want to follow.
What’s more, a recipe can bring back memories that we’ll feel with more or less strong emotions.
3. Inhibition
Inhibition refers to a series of mechanisms that allow us to suppress inappropriate actions and resist interference from irrelevant information. It’s an automatic sorting out of information that could hinder the success of our action.
Neuropsychologists Degiorgio C. Fery P. Polus B. Watelet A. tell us more about executive functions.
Inhibition enables us to avoid actions or instinctive behaviors that would be inappropriate in a certain context.
Mole invasion
In this game, the player has to touch the moles that appear on the screen.
During the game, different types of mole may appear: the normal mole to be tapped once, the mole with the helmet to be tapped twice and the mole with the glasses not to be touched.
As well as being attentive to the appearance of the stimulus, the person must also recognize the type of stimulus and act accordingly. So, we have to perform different actions with the two tapping moles, but we have to inhibit our action with the spyglass mole.
4. Problem solving
We have seen that the executive functions come into play to find the solution to the problem, and this is called problem solving.
Indeed, when faced with a problem, executive functions enable us to gather all the information we need, and put it all together to find the right solution. Often, there are several possible solutions, but thanks to cognitive functions, we can find the quickest and most effective solution.
Congested Parking
In this game, you have to move the cars to get the yellow car out of the parking lot.
You have to think of all the possible combinations, imagine the effects of a move and therefore create a mental image of the sequence of movements to be made. Each part proposes a different starting situation, so you have to adapt to the elements presented.
Do you want to improve your executive functions?
Discover the brain training programs of our brain coach CLINT!
COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES
A version for children aged 5 to 10
CLINT
A preventive version for seniors
SCARLETT
An easy and adapted version for seniors
Follow a training program for 4 weeks
ATTENTION PROGRAM
For 4 weeks, follow our program to work on attention by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.
MEMORY PROGRAM
For 4 weeks, follow our program to work the memory by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.
LANGUAGE PROGRAM
For 4 weeks, follow our program to work on language by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.
PLANNING PROGRAM
For 4 weeks, follow our program to work on your planning by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.
PERCEPTION PROGRAM
During 4 weeks follow our program to work on perception by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.
Complementary exercises at home to work on executive functions
Make conscious, well-considered decisions
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Daily planning exercise: Every morning, take a few minutes to draw up a list of priorities and goals for the day. Decide on the order in which you will accomplish the tasks, and think about the different options available for each task. This exercise engages executive functions such as planning, decision-making and priority management.
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Reflecting on consequences: Before making an important decision, take the time to consider the consequences of each option. Considering the outcomes of your choices helps reinforce thoughtful decision-making and long-term resource management, key elements of executive function.
Organizing your work environment
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Structure your workspace: A well-organized work environment improves executive functions, including time and priority management. Put your documents away, keep your workspace clean and use tools such as calendars or project management applications to keep track of your tasks. A structured space helps you plan better, avoid wasting time searching for items and stay focused on important tasks.
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Use reminders and management tools: To promote planning and organization, use tools such as task management applications (e.g. Trello or Todoist). Set reminders for important deadlines and prioritize your tasks. This stretches your ability to organize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
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Taking strategic breaks
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Using the Pomodoro method: The Pomodoro method involves working in a concentrated way for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. After four sessions, take a longer break. This technique engages attention and time management, essential executive functions. It also helps to maintain productivity throughout the day without becoming overwhelmed.
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Vary the types of breaks: During your breaks, alternate between active activities (such as walking or stretching) and moments of relaxation (meditation or reading). This helps to manage energy and recharge your executive functions, so you can stay efficient throughout the day.
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Improving priority management
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Establish clear priorities: Every day, identify the most important and urgent tasks, then focus on these first. Use a classification system, such as “urgent”, “important”, and “less important”, to structure your activities. This helps you to manage your time effectively and ensure that you complete the crucial tasks.
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Prioritize tasks according to results: Before starting a task, think about its impact. The more impact a task has on your long-term goals, the higher its priority. This reflection helps you make decisions about what needs to be done immediately, and what can be postponed.
Work on rapid decision-making
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Make quick choices: Practice games or exercises where you have to make decisions quickly, such as choosing a route based on traffic conditions or quickly deciding what to eat. These quick decisions train your ability to act effectively under pressure.
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Thinking about future decisions: When you’re making an important decision, try to simulate different options and anticipate their consequences. This helps you hone your ability to make quick decisions while thinking through possible consequences.
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Developing time management
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Estimate the time needed: Before starting a task, estimate how long it will take. Once the task has been completed, compare the estimate with reality to assess your ability to manage your time. This type of exercise helps to improve your accuracy in estimating durations and to better manage your priorities.
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Avoid procrastination: Break down complex tasks into smaller steps. Accomplishing smaller sub-tasks makes the overall goal more affordable and helps you reduce the tendency to procrastinate. This improves time management by enabling you to make more regular progress.
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Reinforce impulse control
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Pause before you act: Before making a decision or taking action, take a moment to reflect. This allows you to avoid impulsive decisions and act more thoughtfully. This type of pause improves impulse control and helps to adopt more measured behavior in stressful situations.
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Use the mental “stop” method: At times when you feel an impulse to react quickly (for example, responding to a message in an emotional way), imagine yourself saying “stop” in your head. This helps you interrupt the flow of emotions or thoughts and think before you act.
Improve working memory
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Follow complex instructions: When given instructions or directions, write down the steps, then follow them without looking back. This improves working memory by forcing you to retain information while performing tasks in parallel.
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Number retention exercises: Use exercises that involve remembering a series of numbers (e.g. a telephone number or combination of numbers) and repeating them in reverse order. This exercise stimulates working memory and helps strengthen your ability to retain and manipulate information.
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Optimizing the management of mental resources
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Use visual reminders for priorities: Use visual reminders like post-its or apps to structure your daily priorities and goals. This allows you to better manage your mental resources by focusing only on the tasks that really matter.
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Limit digital distractions: During your work sessions, reduce digital distractions by closing unnecessary tabs and deactivating notifications. By focusing on just one task at a time, you enable your brain to better manage its mental resources and optimize its efficiency.
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