Scope of "executive function"?

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I'm still learning about the concept of executive function, which does seem to unify multiple issues I experience in life.

Some materials I've seen on the web suggest an overlap with that are otherwise called social communication issues. My social issues have two main components -- lack of various social skills, and social anxiety. What impression do others have about the extent to which "social skill" issues are explainable in terms of executive function, or are independent of it? For instance, I have heard interrupting related to impulse control.

In general, it seems like executive function is a hypothesized explanation, whereas social communication issues are just presented as a fact.

Executive function things that affect me for sure include working memory issues; getting started on things; finishing things; changing gears; and organization of materials. If catching social cues is considered as part of that, then that too, and also talking too loud and interrupting.

I have quite varying feelings about things that are called "plans" or "planning". If I have to do a series of public activities, I want to know ahead of time what they will be, so I can mentally prepare myself.

On the other hand, as a senior software developer at work, I feel chronic disconnect with others about what it is even appropriate to try to "plan". My standing joke is that someone always seems to want a plan in advance of the analysis, which always seems crazy to me.

My brain always wants to translate requests for plans for execution into requests for analysis of what is true and good for the situation. In fact, I've spent a 40-year career developing methodologies and patterns that concentrate all my real work at the analysis phase as much as possible, making everything that comes after either as automated or as intuitively straightforward as possible. My brain delights in the what and the why of things, but revolts against being forced to spend time on what I think of as mere logistics. It then becomes very inefficient, subject to wheel-spinning and burnout.

I get through more "logistical" tasks in both working and domestic life by having well-defined patterns for them that I can execute almost unconsciously. But ask me to come up with a schedule projection for the next year, and I will spend far more time dwelling on how unrealistic it is to do so, than on actually doing it. I'm good at making well-rounded triage decisions on an adaptive basis though, and also have to do a lot of that. My work ideal is "iterative and incremental development that is analysis-centric at every stage". I tend to think of long-term schedules as elaborate lies that are really not worth the bother.

People say we're not good at the big picture, but I'm inclined to dispute this from a neurodiversity/double empathy angle. To me, there is the shallow "big picture" (e.g., task execution level) that people typically want, and then there is the real, deep, higher-fidelity (analysis level) big picture that I struggle to get them to see. Now at least I have an explanation why these sorts of impasses occur.

I don't think I have a very good grasp of what executive function is exactly. I would be interested in reading other people's responses.

Not to get pedantic, but here is the definition from the APA dictionary of psychology:

"higher level cognitive processes of planning, decision making, problem solving, action sequencing, task assignment and organization, effortful and persistent goal pursuit, inhibition of competing impulses, flexibility in goal selection, and goal-conflict resolution. These often involve the use of language, judgment, abstraction and concept formation, and logic and reasoning. They are frequently associated with neural networks that include the frontal lobe, particularly the prefrontal cortex. Deficits in executive functioning are seen in various disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. In the latter, for example, selection and maintenance of goals may be impaired, as may the ability to exclude distractions."

Thanks. This fits pretty well with what I've been seeing on the web.

I do have a couple of issues with aspects of this definition in itself (nothing to do with your presentation of it). I'm aiming for a middle-of-the-road approach that recognizes there are real things to learn from official psychology and neuroscience, but without taking them as gospel. Both philosophically and from the perspective of my own autism, I'm very concerned with meanings of words.

It seems to me that "problem solving" might or might not involve executive function. I do lots of problem solving in my job that doesn't require any planning of sequential steps, for instance. It's more about understanding inherent ordering and relations of things.

Without additional context, calling these all "higher level cognitive processes" seems ambiguous. If the claim is that these are really the highest of all, I disagree, though I would agree they are higher than some other things. For me, the highest level of cognitive process is something like pure thought, and open-ended engagement in interpretation of meaning, independent of particular practical aims and logistical considerations.

On the other hand, I also have to acknowledge that some of my allergy to logistics may itself directly reflect my own neurodivergent perspective on the proper role of this thing called executive function.

There are two sides to this coin. When I leave dishes in the sink for three days in spite of not liking how they smell and in spite of not wanting to put the burden on my wife, that sounds like a very real executive function issue. But when I put actual open thinking in terms of meaning and values ahead of logistical or social calculation and its typically prejudicial assumptions, I feel I am a better human being.

2 years ago I started the Mediterranean diet which means I have to cook everything I eat myself. The planning required to be my own cook all the time was too much for me. I was overwhelmed by the need to co-ordinate recipes, current kitchen inventory of cooked and uncooked food, my normal consumption rate of each type of food (grain, eggs, meat, vegatables, etc.), grocery shopping. All of this kind of information changed everyday. I was always cooking something, eating something, buying something. I couldn't keep it all straight about my current needs, priorities, and status. It wasn't working at first.

2 years ago I also started suspecting I was Asperger's. I learned that my trouble with making the Mediterranean diet work for me was poor executive function. I don't manage things like that very well. Never have.

BUT!! !! I read on Wrongplanet that Asperger's people may have a disability with executive functioning but also have a skill for developing systems that solve specific problems.

As long as I take time up front to analyze and design a system (routines) that solves my problem then I can get by.

My point is that my executive function skills are lousy if I have to use them "in the moment" or "on the fly". I am terrible at improvising. But I CAN focus on the problem and devise a system that leads me through the steps I need to take by habit or routine so I don't have to think "on the fly".

Yes, it takes me longer to do it this way than an NT, (especially when something changes and I have to update my plan) but at least it makes it POSSIBLE for me to do. It's like I have to run my executive function manually (on paper) instead of letting my brain do it for me automatically.

Every time I cook an item (like barley) I check how many servings I made, how long it took me to consume that previous batch of barley, and compute and record a new date for when I'll need to make another batch of barley again. I even designed a system of emotional rewards so I'll enjoy it and look forward to it.

I explained a portion of my design to a friend and he thought I was crazy and I was just complicating things with nonsense.

Interesting point. I wonder if the psychologists still consider it a case of "executive function" when we use up-front analysis and design to come up with a new routine, as compared to somehow doing it on the fly.

My sister has been a professional chef much of her life. She has amazing ability to multitask with very complex logistics all on the fly, and make everything come out perfect. I can't do that at all.

It's a broad category with different parts. I have a book that has whole chapters dedicated to each faction of it.

Emotional regulation is a facet of executive function.

So is the ability to start and maintain tasks.

So is working memory.

gee, NO WONDER my life has been the way it has been so far.

there are different levels of executive function.