6 activities to enhance executive functions

After the rise in recent decades of scientific research based on neuroimaging techniques and computational methodologies, it has been possible to establish the mechanisms of how the human mind operates when activating cognitive reasoning procedures.

In this way, today there is a great consensus in define executive functions (FFEE) as a set of processes whose ultimate purpose is to supervise the execution and determine the control of said cognitive activity and, therefore, behavioral, in the individual.

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Executive functions and their importance in mental processes

The so-called executive functions are located in the frontal lobes and are fundamentally involved in specific cognitive operations such as memorization, metacognition, learning and reasoning.

At a practical level, therefore, executive functions allow actions such as planning events or situations, choose and decide between different options, discriminate between relevant stimuli and discard irrelevant ones,

maintain attention on a task in a sustained manner, decide what type of motor movement is appropriate at each moment, etc. All of them are included in three more general classes of functions (Tirapu-Ustárroz et al, 2008):

• Ability to formulate goals.
• Faculty to plan processes and establish strategies to achieve said objectives.
• Ability to carry out purposes and raise them effectively.

It seems, therefore, that a good functioning of the executive functions allow a greater competence for the individual when it comes to regulating his behavior and doing it efficiently.

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Activities to train and strengthen executive functions

Let's see how this type of faculties can be trained through the implementation of simple exercises and daily activities:

1. Description of the appearance of an object or a person

Numerous capacities are involved in this activity, such as the establishment of differential characteristics, elaboration of categories, structuring of linguistic discourse, vocabulary, focus of attention on relevant details. On the other hand, alternative thinking is stimulated, since said object is valued from a perspective objective (according to its origin, material, history, current and future use) eliminating prejudices or assessments subjective.

2. pattern discovery

The continuation of incomplete series, for example, implies deductive and inductive abstract reasoning processes. Thus, our mind must analyze all the physical characteristics of the available elements to find patterns and common features in order to deduce what the next component will be. This process is fundamental for the human being since it becomes a great resource in the generation of expectations and decision-making, both essential capacities for our psyche and our survival.

3. Generation of alternative action plans

One of the basic procedures of executive functions It is linked to mental flexibility when reflecting about everyday situations or events. For this reason, a practice that greatly exercises this ability is found in the elaboration of various alternative explanations. about the causes of the experiences that are presented to us or in contemplating other options different from an initial plan established.

When we generate several perspectives on a fact, we manage to adopt a more objective position, since we once again resort to the in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of each of the options and enables us to draw more well-founded conclusions rationally. Thus, the fact of detailing all the steps to follow in each proposed plan also implies the implementation of processes such as abstract reasoning, the search for analogies, categorization or the creation of expectations.

4. Practice of creative ability

Research shows how creativity becomes a central component of human intelligence. this ability can be stimulated on a daily basis simply performing a regular task in a different way, altering the procedures that are automated in its execution.

An example of this would be going to work using different routes, solving a problem in an innovative way or changing the route in the supermarket when shopping. It is said that the creative process is made up of the phases of exploration and application. So, the fact of looking for alternative methodologies to solve situations It is fundamental for the implementation of the first of the indicated phases.

At a biological level, this facilitates the generation of new neural connections and, consequently, new learning. It should be noted that automatisms and routines are ways of saving energy that our brain resorts to due to the large volume of mental activity that it must constantly process. That is can be considered as adaptive mechanisms, in principle. Even so, an excess in this style of functioning based on inertia diminishes the competence in the optimal exercise of our intellectual capacity.

5. Use of metaphors

The use of this type of resource when we communicate our ideas implies a previous process where different complex skills are combined. On the one hand, the recovery procedures of the information stored in our memory related to past experiences and referring to the elements used in the metaphor must be executed. On the other hand, the establishment of analogies is activated where the similarities between the information contained in the specific message and the content of the metaphor are linked. For this, common aspects must be analyzed, categories established and attentional capacity activated. to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant information.

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6. Exercising selective and sustained attentional capacity

All novel activity requires, among other processes, the investment of a great intensity of attention and concentration capacity. Activities such as finding differences between received stimuli, learning a new language or playing a musical instrument, for example, involve:

• A great activation of the work memory, which is the one that operates with the information that is in front of it during a certain time and allows generate a specific result or answer - memorize a telephone number to dial it in a few seconds, for example example.
• Creating new connections which favors an increase in cognitive flexibility and the volume of new and discrepant information to be stored.
• The implementation of the so-called inhibitory control (the ability to control impulsive or inappropriate responses to the situation in question) Inhibitory control is closely related to discriminatory attentional ability, since when presents irrelevant stimulation, the executive functions are in charge of sending the order not to react to such type of information.

Bibliographic references:

• Kolb, B. & Wishaw I. Q. (2006) Human Neuropsychology, 5th edition. Panamerican Medical Editorial: Madrid.
• Tirapu-Ustarroz, J., & Luna-Lario, P. (2008). Neuropsychology of executive functions. Neuropsychology Manual, 219-249.
• Wujec, T. (2006). Mind Gymnastics. Planet Editions: Madrid.