Category: Neurobiology
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The Science of Planning with Executive Function Challenges
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in Accountability, Blog, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Neurobiology, Neurodivergent-Friendly Planners, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryYou sit down with your planner and a fresh pen, determined to map out your week. But after 20 minutes of staring at the blank page—heart racing, mind spinning—you find yourself scrolling social media instead. Sound familiar? If planning leaves you overwhelmed, frozen, or frustrated, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. The challenge isn’t a…
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ADHD and Executive Function: A Neurobiological Perspective
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is widely recognized in neuroscience as a condition rooted in executive function impairment. While often described in terms of attention or hyperactivity, at its core, ADHD and executive function involves difficulties with the brain’s self-regulation system—the network of skills that allows us to plan, prioritize, initiate, sustain, and adjust behavior. These executive…
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How Autism Affects Executive Function: a Neurobiological Perspective
Executive function in autism is often disrupted due to differences in brain structure, chemistry, and connectivity. Executive function involves a set of cognitive processes that allow us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, manage emotions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. These skills are coordinated by the prefrontal cortex and its connections with other parts of…
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How Autism Masking Impacts Executive Function (and What to Do About It)
Autism masking is something many autistic individuals do every day—often without even realizing it. It’s the effort to “blend in” with neurotypical norms: suppressing stims, copying others’ behavior, scripting conversations, and working hard to appear socially acceptable. While masking can sometimes feel necessary for safety or acceptance, it comes at a cost—particularly to executive function.…
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14 FAQs: What are Executive Functions in the Brain and Why Does This Matter in ADHD?
In psychology and neuroscience, executive functions in the brain are a set of fundamental cognitive skills that serve as the mind’s management system, helping us plan, organize, start, monitor, and adjust behaviors to navigate daily life. These areas are affected by neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). If you have these disorders…
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Emotional Dysregulation in ADHD Adults: Executive Function, Neurobiology, and the Neurodivergent Experience
If you’re a psychology buff, it might interest you to know that chronic emotional dysregulation is said to “lie at the heart” of borderline personality disorder—which is widely recognized as one of the most difficult personality disorders to treat. It can be easy to assume emotional dysregulation only refers to so-called “negative” emotions, like anger…