Individuals who struggle to complete tasks (at home, school, or the workplace) may not have a problem with executive function—they may have a misalignment of intentions and goals.

Vulnerability causes people to do some interesting things. For preteens, it often manifests into cutthroat judgment and meanness as defense mechanisms. If you look stupid, then I won’t. Couple that ...

Principal Ian Knox’s thoughtful opinion essay, “Kindergartners Are Struggling With Self-Regulation. How Principals Can Respond ” (July 8, 2025), centers on steps school leaders can take to respond ...

I remember applying for my first job at a party store called Wishing Well. It seemed like an amazing place to work, and I was thrilled to hand in my application (on paper, because it was the 90s after ...

Going to school helps children learn how to read and solve math problems, but it also appears to upgrade the fundamental operating system of their brains. A new analysis suggests that the structured ...

Q: An aging friend was told he has problems with “executive function.” So, of course, I’m wondering what that is, if I also could have that problem, and what can be done about it. A: Executive ...

Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Correspondence to Lot Verburgh, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der ...

Executive function is the mechanism by which our brains manage and prioritize our thoughts, working memory, emotions and actions; Harvard researchers call it our brain’s air traffic control system.

As people, we rely on our mental capabilities and cognitive skills to do things like regulate emotions and navigate our day-to-day lives. Planning and organization, completing tasks, time management, ...