Which of the following are components of executive functions?

• A. Sensory register, long-term memory, and executive functions.
• B. Working memory, inhibitory control, and selective attention.
• C. Language development, memory, and motor skills.
• D. Perception, attention, and reasoning.

Answer: (B)

Executive functions are the top‑down control processes that help you plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks. The main components include working memory, inhibitory control, and selective attention. Working memory lets you hold and manipulate information in your mind as you work through a problem. Inhibitory control helps you resist impulses or distractions and choose a more deliberate response. Selective attention enables you to focus on task-relevant information while ignoring irrelevant stimuli. Together, these processes support goal‑directed behavior in real time, like solving a multi-step problem: you hold the steps in mind, restrain impulsive moves, and concentrate on the important cues in the task. The other options mix in memory systems like sensory register or long‑term memory, or broader domains such as language, motor skills, perception, or reasoning, which aren’t the core executive functions themselves.