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Cognitive Flexibility

Also known as: Mental Flexibility, Set Shifting, Task Switching

The executive function that allows a person to adapt their thinking and behavior in response to changing demands, switch between tasks, or consider multiple perspectives simultaneously. Cognitive flexibility is often challenged in autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Accessible design can support cognitive flexibility by providing clear transitions, predictable navigation patterns, and explicit cues when context or task requirements change.

Category: cognitive accessibility · psychology · executive function

Related: Executive Function · Inhibitory Control · Cognitive Load

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