ABSTRACT
Humans have an exquisite set of psychological processes available to direct their attention and actions in order to prioritize, organize, and target their emotions and behaviors in a goal-oriented manner. Executive functions, which include working memory, inhibitory control, and attentional shifting are fundamental to cognitive strategies supporting effective self-regulation of emotions and behaviors. Executive functions include cognitive processes associated with working memory, inhibitory control, and attentional shifting. Deficits in these cognitive processes are found along with the dysregulated emotionality characteristic of anxiety disorders and depression. Effective emotion regulation is associated with prosocial behavior, social connections, strong working memory, and better physical and mental health. Executive functions – attentional shifting, working memory, and inhibitory control – are the underlying cognitive processes supporting effective self-regulation of emotions and behaviors. Anxiety disorders are associated with deficits in each of the traditional constructs of executive functions as well as cognitive reappraisal.
