Work patterns · Work environments · Sustainable performance

The Science

MyBrainOS is built around a simple idea: how people work is shaped not only by ability, but by the fit between their executive-function patterns and the environments they work in.

Modern knowledge work often requires people to plan, switch tasks, manage interruptions, estimate time, regulate attention, start difficult tasks, and stay organized across shifting priorities. These demands are not always visible from the outside, but they can strongly affect how work feels and how sustainable it becomes.

The person

Executive-function patterns

How attention, initiation, time, planning, and regulation show up for an individual.

Fit

The context

Work environment

The structure, pace, clarity, interruptions, and support built into everyday work.

The same person can experience very different levels of friction in different working conditions.

From research to real work

Science & methodology

SEEFA — the Scaffolding and Executive Function Ecological Assessment — is an evidence-informed workplace self-regulation profile. It is designed to look at executive-function patterns in real-world knowledge work, rather than in abstract or clinical settings.

The framework draws on contemporary executive-function research and translates it into practical workplace dimensions such as task initiation, planning support, time perception, attention filtering, cognitive flexibility, drive regulation, and metacognitive awareness.

Workplace dimensions

  • Task initiation
  • Planning support
  • Time perception
  • Attention filtering
  • Cognitive flexibility
  • Drive regulation
  • Metacognitive awareness

Two assessment depths

Instrument overview

Both versions begin after the context section and combine scored factor items, response-quality checks, and environmental fit items.

Free assessment

SEEFA-Brief

35

items

SEEFA-Brief is the free version of the assessment. It includes 35 items after the context section: 24 scored factor items, 3 response-quality checks, and 8 environmental fit items.

Scored factor items
24
Response-quality checks
3
Environmental fit items
8

Extended assessment

SEEFA-Full

72

items

SEEFA-Full includes 72 items after the context section: 54 scored factor items, 10 response-quality checks, and 8 environmental fit items.

Scored factor items
54
Response-quality checks
10
Environmental fit items
8

Response scales

Core items use a 5-point frequency scale, from Never to Very Often. Environmental fit items use a 5-point agreement scale.

How to read a higher score

Higher scores indicate greater self-reported friction, support need, or environmental mismatch in a specific dimension. A higher score does not mean lower ability. It points to areas where a person may need more structure, clearer scaffolding, different workflows, or better environmental fit.

Clear boundaries

What SEEFA measures — and what it does not

SEEFA does not measure intelligence, talent, motivation, or clinical impairment. It does not produce a diagnosis and should not be used to label people.

Instead, SEEFA creates a structured profile of how executive-function demands may show up in everyday work. The goal is to support reflection, coaching, better work design, and more informed conversations about sustainable performance.

SEEFA does not measure

  • Intelligence
  • Talent
  • Motivation
  • Clinical impairment

Designed to support

  • Reflection
  • Coaching
  • Better work design
  • Sustainable performance conversations

Consent and governance

Transparency & research

With explicit consent, de-identified aggregate data may be used for research and may be published through open-science platforms such as OSF. Individual responses are not published.

AI-assisted processing may be used for operational tasks and report generation. Where relevant, this is disclosed during consent and handled within the privacy and data-governance safeguards of the platform.

Responsible use

Non-clinical scope

SEEFA is developmental and educational. It is not a medical, psychiatric, or neuropsychological assessment. It should not be used for diagnosis, hiring, promotion, termination, or other employment decisions.

Its purpose is to help people better understand the conditions under which they work best — and where thoughtful support or redesign may reduce unnecessary friction.