Which set of elements constitutes core executive function skills?

• A. Short-term memory only
• B. Long-term memory and attention
• C. Planning and reasoning
• D. Working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility

Answer: (D)

Executive function skills are the mental control processes that support goal-directed thinking and behavior: holding and manipulating information, resisting distractions or impulsive actions, and adapting to new rules or demands. The best answer names the three main builders of these abilities: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.

Working memory lets you hold instructions or steps in your mind while you carry them out. Inhibitory control helps you pause a reflex or ignore a tempting distraction so you can stick to a plan. Cognitive flexibility enables you to shift strategies or switch perspectives when problems change or when the task requires a different approach. Together, these three processes support planning, problem solving, and learning across settings.

Short-term memory alone is mainly about storage for a brief moment and doesn’t capture the active manipulation and control that EF requires. Long-term memory and attention mix other aspects of cognition, but long-term memory isn’t part of the core executive-control set, and while attention is related, it isn’t the specific trio described. Planning and reasoning are important, but they’re higher-level functions that rely on the core three to operate effectively, rather than constituting the core set themselves.