🧠 Executive Function and your BRAIN! How it works, with a model.

What’s going on, everybody?

Today, I’m going to talk about the human brain and executive function.

Hi, everybody—what’s up? My name is Seth Perler. By the end of this video, whether you’re a parent, teacher, therapist, or student, you’ll have a better understanding of how the human brain—your actual brain—helps us do both important and unimportant things in life.

I’m going to be showing you a life-size model of the brain, the same size as yours. So let’s go ahead and get started.

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First, I want to say that I love the human brain. I love learning about it because it’s fascinating.

One interesting fact is that the brain uses about a third of all the calories we consume. Even though the brain is relatively small compared to the rest of the body, it uses about 30% of our energy.

That’s amazing. It shows how powerful the brain is and how hard it’s working all the time.

Even if you struggle with your brain—like I do—your brain is unique, different from others, and truly incredible, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

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Next, let’s talk about neurons—brain cells.

Your brain contains about 85 billion neurons. To put that into perspective, there are estimated to be between 100 billion and 400 billion stars in a galaxy.

That’s a lot.

These neurons are constantly communicating with each other, helping us do everything—blink, speak, move, hear, interpret sound, and control our muscles.

They are active 24/7, making everything we do possible.

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Now, in my work, I help students—usually those with executive function challenges, like I have.

Executive function involves the front part of the brain. If you place your hand over your forehead, you’re covering the prefrontal cortex—the front third of your brain.

This part of the brain helps us execute tasks.

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What does that mean?

Executing a task can be anything: playing video games, making a video like this, texting someone, writing a paper, studying for a test, doing homework, organizing a backpack, doing chores, or getting out the door in the morning.

Any task—big or small—requires executive function.

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To complete a task, we need several skills.

We need to focus, concentrate, and pay attention. We need to resist distractions and control impulses. We need to manage time, stay organized, and regulate our emotions.

All of these abilities come from the prefrontal cortex.

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Now, sometimes things make it harder to execute tasks.

For example, I have executive function challenges. I have ADHD, inattentive type, which makes it difficult for me to focus and pay attention. I get distracted easily.

At the same time, there are strengths that come with this—but the challenges are real.

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Another important point is that the prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to fully develop. It continues developing until around age 25 to 30.

That’s why learning executive function skills early is so important. These skills help us achieve our goals and build a meaningful life.

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To me, the purpose of life is to build on our strengths and create a life that is happy, healthy, and successful.

Everyone defines success differently, but ultimately, we all want a good quality of life.

Executive function challenges can interfere with our ability to create that life. They can limit our choices, opportunities, and possibilities.

And I see this struggle every day in my work.

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There are many factors that can impact executive function.

Developmental differences are one. For example, my brain developed more slowly in this area than some of my peers.

Other factors include diet, sleep, and exercise. Too much sugar, not enough sleep, or lack of movement can all affect how well we think and function.

Stress and trauma—both big and small—can also interfere with our ability to focus, plan, and regulate emotions.

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Now, let’s talk about emotional regulation.

I’ve been focusing on the prefrontal cortex, but another important part of the brain is the amygdala.

The amygdala is located near the center of the brain, roughly behind the eyes. It’s named after an almond because of its shape.

The amygdala plays a key role in regulating emotions.

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One important thing to know is that the amygdala doesn’t use language. It doesn’t “hear” words—it responds to signals from other parts of the brain.

Its main job is to keep us safe.

When we sense danger or feel threatened, the amygdala activates. It sends signals through the nervous system, triggering the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands.

This prepares the body for “fight, flight, or freeze.”

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However, the amygdala isn’t always accurate.

For example, if I have test anxiety, my brain might interpret the situation as dangerous. I might think, “I’m going to fail this test, and then everything will go wrong.”

These thoughts can spiral and create a sense of threat that isn’t proportional to the actual situation.

This is sometimes called “making a mountain out of a molehill.”

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When this happens, we may go into fight, flight, or freeze more often than necessary, which can lead to anxiety and overwhelm.

But by learning about the brain and developing executive function skills, we can improve emotional regulation. We can manage how we feel and think more effectively.

That helps us stay clear-headed and focus on what truly matters.

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So this is just a brief overview of the brain and executive function.

If you want to learn more, you can visit my site, sethperler.com, or executivefunctionsummit.com. There are many free resources available to help you get started.

These challenges are real, and their impact on people’s lives should not be underestimated.

But the good news is—there are real strategies that can help.

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That’s why I do this work.

I want to help you understand and support students who are struggling so they can build a better life.

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I want to wish you peace in your heart, joy in your life, and most of all, connection with the people you care about—especially the kids in your life.

My name is Seth Perler.

If you found this helpful, like, subscribe, and leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what you’ve learned about the brain—things like executive function, the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the fight-flight-freeze response.

What stood out to you? What questions do you have?

Have a fantastic day. Be well.