Have you ever had a day when you were just distracted and disorganized; where it felt like your normally centered mind was in complete disarray?  This is not uncommon and it is likely that after taking a short break or getting something to eat, you were able to return to your tasks with a stronger sense of focus and purpose.

The human brain is flooded with messages from the senses on a regular basis. These messages travel through our sense organs and are directed to different parts of the brain for processing, all in the blink of an eye. This command center is responsible for managing every body function, emotion, memory, response, and decision we make.

Touch the back of your head near your neck.  The part of the brain behind this area of your skull is called the brainstem. This area controls the body functions that you don’t have to think about, such as breathing, digestion, sleep cycles, and heart rate. This is the first part of the brain to develop, beginning in the womb.

Now place your hand on the center of your forehead. The area of the brain behind this part of your skull is considered the “thinking area” of the brain.  This most forward area of the brain is where the left and right frontal lobes are located.  These are the last areas of the brain to fully mature, sometimes not fully developing until the mid-20s.

In this month’s newsletter, we will explore a specific set of skills, called executive functions that reside in the frontal lobes of the human brain. These skills are extremely important for children of all ages as they navigate both the academic and social environments of today’s education system.

For the article How are Executive Functions and Executive Assistants Alike?, CLICK HERE

For the article Examples of Executive Functions, CLICK HERE

For the article Promoting the Development of Executive Functions, CLICK HERE

For the article Executive Functions and Adults, CLICK HERE