6 activities to enhance executive functions

A series of tips to train key mental capacities in cognitive processes.

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. the mechanisms of how the human mind operates when activating when it comes to activating cognitive reasoning procedures.

Thus, nowadays there is a great consensus in defining executive functions (FFEE) as a set of processes whose ultimate purpose is to supervise the execution and determine the control of such cognitive and, therefore, behavioral activity in the individual.

Executive functions and their importance in mental processes.

The so-called executive functions are located in the frontal lobes and are mainly 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, choosing and deciding between different options, discriminating between relevant stimuli and discarding irrelevant ones, maintaining attention on a task in a sustained manner, deciding which type of motor movement is the most appropriate.deciding which type of motor movement is appropriate at any given moment, etc. All of these are included in three more general classes of functions (Tirapu-Ustárroz et al, 2008):

• Ability to formulate goals.
• Ability to plan processes and establish strategies to achieve these goals.
• Ability to carry out purposes and to plan them effectively.

It seems, therefore, that a good functioning of the executive functions allows a greater competence for the individual to regulate his behavior and perform it in an efficient way. for the individual to regulate his behavior and carry it out in an efficient way.

Activities to train and enhance executive functions.

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

1. Describing the appearance of an object or a person 2.

This activity involves numerous abilities such as establishing differential characteristics, elaboration of categories, structuring of linguistic discourseThis activity involves numerous skills such as establishing distinguishing characteristics, category development, structuring linguistic discourse, vocabulary, and focusing attention on relevant details. On the other hand, alternative thinking is stimulated, since the object is valued from an objective perspective (according to its origin, material, history, current and future use) eliminating prejudices or subjective evaluations.

2. Discovery of patterns

The continuation of incomplete series, for example, involves abstract deductive and inductive 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 is going to be. This process is fundamental for the human being since it becomes a great resource in the generation of expectations and the generating expectations and making decisions, both of which are essential to our psyche.both essential capabilities for our psyche and our survival.

3. Generation of alternative action plans

One of the basic procedures of the executive functions is the generation of alternative action plans. is linked to mental flexibility when reflecting on day-to-day situations or events. on day-to-day situations or events. Therefore, a practice that greatly exercises this skill is to elaborate several alternative explanations about the causes of the experiences that we are presented with or to contemplate other options different from an initial established plan.

When we generate several perspectives on an event, we manage to adopt a more objective position, since we resort once again to a deep analysis of the pros and cons of each of the options and it allows us to draw more rationally based conclusions. Thus, the fact of detailing all the steps to be followed 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 the creative capacity

Research shows how creativity becomes a central component of human intelligence. This ability can be stimulated on a daily basis simply by performing a habitual 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 modifying the route in the supermarket when shopping. It is said that the creative process is composed of the phases of exploration and application. Thus, the fact of looking for alternative methodologies to solve situations is fundamental to the is fundamental for the implementation of the first of the above phases.

At a Biological level, this facilitates the generation of new neuronal connections and, consequently, new learning. It should be noted that automatisms and routines are forms of energy saving that our brain resorts to due to the large volume of mental activity that it must constantly process. In other words, they can be considered as adaptive mechanismsin 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 communicating our ideas implies a previous process where different complex skills are combined. On the one hand, the procedures for retrieving information stored in our memory related to past experiences and referring to the elements used in the metaphor must be carried out. On the other hand, the establishment of analogies is activated where the similarities between the information contained in the concrete message and the content of the metaphor are linked. For this purpose, common aspects must be analyzed, categories must be established and the attentional capacity must be activated to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant information. to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant information.

6. Exercising selective and sustained attentional capacity

Every novel activity requires, among other processes, the investment of a high 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 high activation of the working memory, which is the one that operates with the information in front of it for a certain time and allows generating a specific result or response - memorizing a telephone number to dial it in a few seconds, for example.
• The creation of new connections which favors an increase in cognitive flexibility and in 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 non-relevant stimulation is presented, the executive functions are responsible for sending the order not to react to such information.

Bibliographical references:

• Kolb, B. & Wishaw I. Q. (2006) Human Neuropsychology, 5th edition. Editorial Médica Panamericana: Madrid.
• Tirapu-Ustarroz, J., & Luna-Lario, P. (2008). Neuropsychology of executive functions. Manual of neuropsychology, 219-249.
• Wujec, T. (2006). Gimnasia Mental. Ediciones Planeta: Madrid.