EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

Response Inhibition

Response inhibition involves being able to stop or delay an action and to be able to reflect rather than display impulsive behavior.  Response inhibition is a very important skill for safety, displaying socially appropriate behaviors, and efficient problem solving.

Self-control allows a child to stop ineffective and inappropriate (destructive/irresponsible) actions so that the child can plan, consider, and display appropriate behaviors.  Self-control is important in a child's ability to size up and monitor a situation before acting.  This skill is important in noticing the nonverbal and social cues that help guide behavior.  Self-control is important in understanding acceptable behavior in a particular situation and is a necessary component for one to consider the possible consequences of one's behavior.

Skillful use of response inhibition is seen in children who:

• Understand the need for taking turns in game play.
• Show appropriate caution while crossing the street or using a knife.
• Read the directions prior to taking a test.
• Take enough time to understand social situations before joining.

Unskilled use of response inhibition is seen in children who:

• Experience difficulties in self-control and impulsivity.
• Lack concern for safety.
• Engage in activities such as riding a bike without a helmet or other high-risk behaviors.
• Have a tendency to blurt out answers to questions prior to raising their hands.
• Display a propensity to start a game or assignment without previously looking at the directions.
• Are overly aggressive in sports, causing their peers not to want toplay with them.
• Produce sloppy schoolwork.
• Have difficulties coloring within the lines (younger children).
• Mistake a plus sign for a minus sign while doing mathematical calculations (older children).

Response Inhibition Games

Video and computer games offer numerous opportunities for response inhibition. Sometimes these repeated actions cause children to have to restart a game or lose any progress that they have made on a particular game level. Players need to recognize when their immediate reactions no longer serve them in the game. They may successfully use an action on one level, only to find that it no longer works in the next level. For example, playing a simple computer game such as Tetris might involve quick decision making, yet at the same time, thinking before acting. Other, more complicated games may require that players stop their current actions to avoid “injury” or “losing lives.” 

Games and technology are very useful in learning self-control. Many video games require planning, understanding the steps one needs to take to beat the game, and a clear inclination to learn the directions and steps required to complete a task. (It is important to note that many video games are best learned by experimenting and making mistakes, rather than by reading directions.) Many games and technologies present an opportunity to learn strategies for stopping a reflective action, requiring good strategy rather than simple reaction time.

Game play helps children develop better response inhibition when they practice skills such as:

• Identifying parts of the game where they had to stop and think before acting, rather than simply continuing as they had before.
• Understanding game settings where one needs to delay an action for a particular amount of time in order to be successful.
• Identifying places within the game where a previously successful action no longer works.
• Determining when taking time to learn about the directions or complexity of a game is a better choice than simply playing and making mistakes.

Parent Tips:

Select games in which making commission errors (doing something or reacting) causes failures and difficulty in completing the game. Encourage children to step back and think about alternative approaches.

Discuss the difference between games in which trial-and-error learning is less effective than a reflective, well thought-out strategy. While some games and life situations require a trial-and-error approach, it is important to know where to apply these different strategies.

Games and digital technologies to enhance response inhibition:

• Bejeweled 2
• Big Brain Academy
• Brain Age
• Bugs
• Insaniquarium
• Mind Quiz
• Puzzle Quest
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Trauma Center: Second Opinion
• WarioWare: Smooth Moves
• Wubbzy’s Amazing Adventure