A recent article in Newsweek asks this fascinating question: is EF more important than IQ as a determinant or predictor in scholastic and professional endeavors?

How that question gets answered may well be the most important single factor in determining the way our children will - or at least should- be educated. According to the article, studies conducted with preschool aged children showed that those kids educated using techniques that help to develop executive function performed far better than their conventionally educated peers.

What’s more, in spite of the fact that education for maximizing EF appears to be much more frivolous and playful then a traditional literacy oriented curriculum the EF groups significantly outperformed their matched peers in all areas included their subsequent ability to learn to read, write and correctly perform mathematical equations.

This new thinking has the potential to be transformational if the powers that be are willing to embrace the realities of this data. The facts are too powerful to ignore; they even answer some nagging questions about people that appear to have the brightest of headlights (IQ’s approaching 200) yet seem to be unable to match socks, tie shoes or arrive somewhere in a timely fashion.

The reasons for this may be based upon the very substantial differences between IQ and EF. According to one physician, Dr. Richard Petty who has just written a short article on the topic:

“There is an important idea in neurology and psychology called “Executive functioning.” This refers to our ability to be able to make and carry out plans, direct our attention, focus and also to control our internal states: our impulses and emotions and to be able to switch from one task to another. In other words it is a key part of our ability to self-regulate our behavior, mind and emotions.

I can’t help but wonder if this also means that there will soon be another disorder affecting children and adults: EFDD and AEFDD (Executive Function Deficit Disorder and Adult Executive Function Deficit Disorder respectively). I’m sure that the lab rats in the white jackets are already hard at work at Glaxco and SmithKline, Ortho, Lilly and the other big pharma firms…after all this is another multi-billion dollar blockbuster dream come true for the industry; a likely easily diagnosed, incurable but eminently treatable “condition” that requires a lifetime of medical maintenance. I can hear the aforementioned company’s CEO’s shouting “Hallelujah!” from here.

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There’s been a really exceptional amount of interest and excellent commentary associated with my post on why we (or at least why I) sometimes procrastinate. Based upon this interest and the fascinating number of specific organic and psychological pathologies that seem to be associated with this issue it seems to me that this topic deserves much deeper exploration.

Is GTD a means to much greater self control and productivity for people that are forced to deal with these particular challenges? Are there reasons why GTD may (or may not) be the best strategy for gaining some form of mastery where none existed before? Are people with a particular personality type more attracted to GTD than others? There are so many questions that merit analysis and discussion.

Is there someone out there - a psychologist - a psychiatrist - or perhaps even a neuro-biologist or cognitive scientist who would be interested in furthering our understanding of these issues as a contributor to GTDtimes?

You won’t get rich, but you could get famous - or at least more well known in the rarefied circles of GTD practitioners who read blogs and other GTD related websites.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that someone with the training to evaluate these issues and particularly someone knowledgeable about ADD, ADHD, OCD, and other related syndromes could offer a fascinating lens into this topic and help us to understand what it is about GTD that may be so beneficial for people that deal with difficulty concentrating, trouble showing up on time or simply getting their work completed in a timely fashion or at all.

If anyone out there would like to take up the mantle of writing for GTDtimes on this and related topics I would love to hear from you. Please send an email to my attention at editor at GTDtimes dot com with “psych guy” (or gal) in the subject line and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

This is one of the most fascinating areas I’ve seen as it relates to GTD and it seems to me to be one of the least acknowledged or understood. GTDtimes would be privileged to have someone qualified join us to help  throw some light on this area and open up the door to greater insight into this very important subject.

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Don’t Look Down…

This should probably be filed under “reasons to appreciate YouTube”. This pathway, called the El Caminito Del Rey is in Malaga, Spain. It was constructed (lord only knows HOW it was constructed) around 1901 for the purpose of controlling some sluice-ways from the canyon walls into the valley below.

The sure-footed videographer is among the finest free climbers I have ever seen (check out his other videos ). According to the comments on the original Brightcove post (anyone know how to embed Brightcove video in WordPress MU?) the music is “Magic Of Politics” by Micheal Darius, the sampled voice, is John F Kennedy reading Faulkner. The track can be found at Michael Dario’s website.

Extra Dimensions and the Theory of…Everything

Brian Greene takes us on a fascinating journey from the discovery of gravity to the possibility that the universe is made up not of three, but of eleven total dimensions and that all matter is made up of tiny vibrating “strings” of energy…

Bonus Footage:

Finally, GTD with ADD and OCD? Yep, according to Chris Pirillo

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