executive function: a set of cognitive processes that help us self-regulate so we can effectively plan, prioritize, and sustain effort toward our (long term) goals.
The cognitive processes that make up executive function are:
- Response Inhibition: helps us not be impulsive
- Working Memory: remember info while we are working with it (e.g. not being a goldfish)
- Set Shifting: switching between tasks with different cognitive demands
- Delay Aversion: delaying immediate gratification to achieve long-term rewards
This has ramifications for motivation and makes ADHDers seem more immature to their neurotypical counterparts.
Source
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4YIHrEu-TU