101
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Lucenet J, Blaye A. Contextual adaptation of cognitive flexibility in kindergartners and fourth graders. J Exp Child Psychol 2023; 227:105586. [PMID: 36413870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the development of children's ability to find the optimal balance between flexibility and stability as a function of the frequency of required task switches. This question was addressed in two situations contrasting the dynamics of engagement of reconfiguration processes (reactive vs. proactive). A cued task-switching paradigm was presented to kindergartners and fourth graders, who are known to differ in their preferential mode of control engagement. Flexibility adaptation was examined through the modulation of switching costs by switch proportion, the so-called list-wide switch proportion (LWSP) effect. When the situation forced the use of reactive control (Experiment 1: simultaneous presentation of the cue and the stimulus), we found the LWSP effect with a greater magnitude in kindergartners than in fourth graders. In the situation inducing proactive control (Experiment 2: task cue presented before and until the stimulus), flexibility adaptation was obtained when error rates were considered but not response times. By demonstrating that even young children are capable of flexibility adaptation to contextual demands, these findings support the hypothesis that implicitly triggered adaptation of control may develop as early as the end of the preschool years despite the immaturity of cognitive control during this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Lucenet
- Laboratoire de Psychologie, EA 4139, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Agnès Blaye
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, UMR CNRS 7290, University of Aix-Marseille, 13331 Marseille, France
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102
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Lasch C, Carlson SM, Elison JT. Responding to joint attention as a developmental catalyst: Longitudinal associations with language and social responsiveness. INFANCY 2023; 28:339-366. [PMID: 36404295 PMCID: PMC9899317 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Joint attention (JA), infants' ability to engage in triadic attention with another person and a separate object or event, emerges in infancy. Responding to joint attention (RJA) develops earlier than initiating joint attention (IJA) and may benefit from a reconceptualization from a competence to a skill that varies in performance. Investigating associations between RJA performance and important skills of toddlerhood such as language, social responsiveness, and executive function (EF) in typically developing samples can better elucidate how RJA may serve as a developmental precursor to later dimensional skills, with implications for both typical and atypical development. Here, 210 (82% White) infants completed the Dimensional Joint Attention Assessment (DJAA), a naturalistic play-based assessment of RJA, at 8-15 months. At 16-38 months social responsiveness, verbal ability, and EF were assessed. Multilevel models showed that DJAA scores were associated with later verbal abilities and parent-reported social responsiveness. Exploratory analyses showed trend-level associations between RJA and EF. Results establish the content validity of the DJAA as a measure of RJA, and longitudinal associations with later verbal ability and social responsiveness. Future work should examine EF emergence and consolidation, and RJA and later EF associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Lasch
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Jed T. Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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103
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Mulvihill A, Matthews N, Dux PE, Carroll A. Task difficulty and private speech in typically developing and at-risk preschool children. JOURNAL OF CHILD LANGUAGE 2023; 50:464-491. [PMID: 35307040 DOI: 10.1017/s0305000921000945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Private speech is a cognitive tool to guide thinking and behavior, yet its regulatory use in atypical development remains equivocal. This study investigated the influence of task difficulty on private speech in preschool children with attention or language difficulties. Measures of private speech use, form and content were obtained while 52 typically developing and 25 developmentally at-risk three- to four-year-old children completed Duplo construction and card sort tasks, each comprising two levels of challenge. In line with previous research, developmentally at-risk children used less internalized private speech than typically developing peers. However, both typically developing and at-risk children demonstrated a similar regulatory private speech response to difficulty with no systematic evidence of group difference. This was captured by an increase in all utterances, reduced private speech internalization, and more frequent forethought and self-reflective content. Results support the hypothesis of delayed private speech internalization but not regulatory deviance in atypical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling Mulvihill
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natasha Matthews
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul E Dux
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Annemaree Carroll
- School of Education, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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104
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Finch JE, Akhavein K, Patwardhan I, Clark CA. Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Perceptions of School Climate are Uniquely Associated with Students' Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior Problems. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 85:101512. [PMID: 36817721 PMCID: PMC9937514 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Early externalizing and internalizing problems undermine children's school success and long-term well-being. Leveraging a large, U.S.-representative dataset (N ≈ 14,810), we examined how kindergarten teachers' self-efficacy and school climate perceptions were linked to students' behavior problems in kindergarten and first grade. Teachers' self-efficacy and school climate perceptions were uniquely linked to kindergarteners' externalizing and internalizing behaviors, after controlling for demographic covariates and children's executive functions. Kindergarten teachers' higher self-efficacy predicted lower levels of children's externalizing problems in first grade, while teachers' positive school climate perceptions predicted children's lower internalizing problems in first grade. Longitudinal models demonstrated that teachers' perceived school climate and self-efficacy were uniquely associated with decreases in children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors from kindergarten to first grade. Findings highlight the importance of teachers' self-efficacy and school climate for children's socio-emotional development and underscore an urgent need to determine how best to support teacher well-being to optimize children's outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E. Finch
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| | - Kimia Akhavein
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| | | | - Caron A.C. Clark
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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105
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Chen J, Kwok SC, Song Y. An intricate relationship between executive function and second-language ability in a cohort of Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children. Dev Sci 2023; 26:e13312. [PMID: 35983932 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between executive function and second-language ability remains contentious in bilingual children; thus, the current study focused on this issue. In total, 371 Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children ranging from 3 to 6 years old were assessed by a battery of tasks measuring language ability (expressive vocabulary tests, receptive vocabulary tests, and phonological awareness of both their first-language and second-language) and executive function (working memory, inhibition, and switching). Our results indicated that age is a crucial moderator of the relationship between second-language ability and executive function. Specifically, executive function unilaterally predicted second-language ability in children who were 3-4 years old, whereas second-language ability and executive function bilaterally influenced each other in children who were 4-5 and 5-6 years old. These findings suggest that executive function and second-language ability have an intertwined and causal relationship among preschool children during development. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A counterfactual model showed causality between executive function and second language ability in Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children. Executive function unilaterally predicted second language ability in the 3- to 4-year-old age group. Executive function and second language ability bilaterally influenced each other in the 4- to 5 and 5- to 6-year-old age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sze Chai Kwok
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Phylo-Cognition Laboratory, Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongning Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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106
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Leclercq M, Gimenes G, Maintenant C, Clerc J. Goal choice in preschoolers is influenced by context, cognitive flexibility, and metacognition. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1063566. [PMID: 37006717 PMCID: PMC10052421 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1063566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionGoal choice is one of the first, and most important, steps in self-regulated learning (SRL). It is particularly challenging for young children (before 5–6 years), who tend to rely on available environmental cues, which makes their goals fragile because of the instability and variability of the environment. Therefore, it can be assumed that the conditions under which a task is performed may influence a child’s learning goal choice. Moreover, adapting to constraints involves control capacities provided by executive functions (EF) and metacognition.MethodsThe main purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence the way preschoolers choose a learning goal during the first step of SRL. We tested whether adding constraints to perform a task may influence the choice of the procedure that a child aims to learn to perform this task. We also examined the role of cognitive flexibility and metacognition in goal selection in the face of these changes, and tested the influence of change over time, comparing participants’ performance at two points in the school year. One hundred 4-year-olds were asked to perform a jigsaw puzzle task under two conditions: predictable vs. unpredictable environmental change. Individual levels of cognitive flexibility and metacognition were also measured.ResultsThe results show that only a predictable change, but not an unpredictable one, leaded children to change their learning goals. Furthermore, when participants were faced with an unpredictable change, metacognition and cognitive flexibility significantly predicted learning goal change. Results are discussed regarding the development of SRL, flexibility, and metacognition. Educational suggestions are proposed.Highlights– The choice of a learning goal by a preschooler is influenced by the conditions of task performance and environmental cues. Facing a predictable change is more disruptive to children before the age of 4.5, and more likely to cause them to change their goal.– A shift is observed, from age 4 and during the school year, from a perceptual to a conceptual level of processing.– Cognitive flexibility and metacognition also determine learning goal choice in preschoolers, but only in front of unpredictable changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Leclercq
- Univ. Lille, ULR 4072 – PSITEC – Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France
- *Correspondence: Marion Leclercq, ✉
| | - Guillaume Gimenes
- Univ. Lille, ULR 4072 – PSITEC – Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Célia Maintenant
- Laboratory PAVeA, Department of Psychology, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Jérôme Clerc
- Laboratory CNRS LPNC, Department Psychology, University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
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107
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Ribner AD, Ahmed SF, Miller-Cotto D, Ellis A. The role of executive function in shaping the longitudinal stability of math achievement during early elementary grades. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY 2023; 64:84-93. [PMID: 36937227 PMCID: PMC10019360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
There is substantial rank-order stability in children's mathematical skills throughout development. Research has shown that children who enter school with relatively low math skills are unlikely to catch up to peers who begin kindergarten with more developed math skills. Emerging evidence suggests that children's executive function skills might play an important role in shaping the rate and stability of mathematical skill development during early development. Therefore in the present study, we used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort 2010-11-a prospective sample of over 18,000 children in the United States-to examine executive function as an antecedent to characteristics of growth in math skills and to test whether executive function moderates the longitudinal stability of math achievement from kindergarten through second grade. Latent growth curve models reveal that executive function is related to not only the level of math skills at school entry but also to the rate of growth in early elementary years. Moreover, we found that executive function moderated the stability of math achievement from kindergarten to second grade, suggesting that early executive function skills can serve as a compensatory mechanism for children who enter school with lower levels of mathematical skills. These findings might have important implications for narrowing gaps in math achievement during early elementary school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Ribner
- University of Pittsburgh, Learning Research and Development Center
| | - Sammy F. Ahmed
- Michigan State University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
| | | | - Alexa Ellis
- Purdue University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
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108
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Cerić F, Montemurro M, Muñoz-Nájar Pacheco A, Cortés C. Modulation of performance during executive function tasks by emotional salience of stimuli ( Modulación del desempeño en tareas de funciones ejecutivas por saliencia emocional de los estímulos). STUDIES IN PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/02109395.2022.2158587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Cerić
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Afectiva, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Del Desarrollo
| | - Manuel Montemurro
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Afectiva, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Del Desarrollo
| | | | - Cristian Cortés
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Afectiva, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Del Desarrollo
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109
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Stanford W, Mucha PJ, Dayan E. Age-related changes in network controllability are mitigated by redundancy in large-scale brain networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.17.528999. [PMID: 36824776 PMCID: PMC9949152 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.17.528999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
The aging brain undergoes major changes in its topology. The mechanisms by which the brain mitigates age-associated changes in topology to maintain robust control of brain networks are unknown. Here we used diffusion MRI data from cognitively intact participants (n=480, ages 40-90) to study age-associated changes in the controllability of structural brain networks, features that could mitigate these changes, and the overall effect on cognitive function. We found age-associated declines in controllability in control hubs and large-scale networks, particularly within the and frontoparietal control and default mode networks. Redundancy, quantified via the assessment of multi-step paths within networks, mitigated the effects of changes in topology on network controllability. Lastly, network controllability, redundancy, and grey matter volume each played important complementary roles in cognitive function. In sum, our results highlight the importance of redundancy for robust control of brain networks and in cognitive function in healthy-aging.
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110
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Moriguchi Y, Phillips S. Evaluating the Distinction between Cool and Hot Executive Function during Childhood. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020313. [PMID: 36831856 PMCID: PMC9953946 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This article assesses the cool-hot executive function (EF) framework during childhood. First, conceptual analyses suggest that cool EF (cEF) is generally distinguished from hot EF (hEF). Second, both EFs can be loaded into different factors using confirmatory factor analyses. Third, the cognitive complexity of EF is similar across cEF tasks, and the cognitive complexity of cEF is similar to hEF tasks. Finally, neuroimaging analysis suggests that children activate the lateral prefrontal regions during all EF tasks. Taken together, we propose that the cool-hot framework is a useful, though not definitive way of characterizing differences in EF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Moriguchi
- Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Yoshidahoncho, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-75-753-2852
| | - Steven Phillips
- Mathematical Neuroscience Group, Human Informatics and Interaction Research Group, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan
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111
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Lichtenberg L, Visser I, Raijmakers MEJ. Latent Markov Models to Test the Strategy Use of 3-Year-Olds in a Rule-Based Feedback-Learning Task. MULTIVARIATE BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH 2023:1-14. [PMID: 36762914 DOI: 10.1080/00273171.2023.2170963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study is the first to investigate how 3-year-olds learn simple rules from feedback using the Toddler Card Sorting Task (TCST). To account for intra- and inter- individual differences in the learning process, latent Markov models were fitted to the time series of accuracy responses using maximum likelihood techniques (Visser et al., 2002). In a first, exploratory study (N = 110, 3- to 5-years olds) a considerable group of 3-year olds applied a hypothesis testing learning strategy. A second study confirmed these results with a preregistered study (3-years olds, N = 60). Under supportive learning conditions, a majority of 3-year- olds was capable of hypothesis testing. Furthermore, older children and those with bigger working memory capacities were more likely to use hypothesis testing, even though the latter group perseverated more than younger children or those with smaller working memory capacities. 3-year-olds are more advanced feedback-learners than assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lichtenberg
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I Visser
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M E J Raijmakers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Educational Studies and Learn!, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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112
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Cronin-Golomb LM, Bauer PJ. Self-motivated and directed learning across the lifespan. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 232:103816. [PMID: 36549216 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-motivated and directed learning is integral to knowledge base expansion for learners of all ages. Both motivational and cognitive processes drive self-motivated and directed lifelong learning, yet how these different processes operate together from childhood through adulthood is largely unknown. In this review, we discuss the role of personal motivators, such as beliefs in self-efficacy and personality traits in self-motivated and directed learning across the lifespan. We then consider the role of cognitive processes that contribute to knowledge base expansion in learners of all ages, specifically executive functions. We focus on working memory, inhibitory control, and task switching as potential determinants of lifelong learning. Finally, we integrate the two literatures, to discuss ways in which personal motivators may influence deployment of executive functions under self-motivated and directed conditions as a learner advances along a developmental trajectory. We also suggest ways to move the study of self-motivated and directed learning beyond observation and self-report measures thus affording experimental control. We aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding and novel insight to the mechanisms and processes of self-motivated and directed learning across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia J Bauer
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, United States of America
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113
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Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences?. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023; 139:107553. [PMID: 36744000 PMCID: PMC9746296 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The recent increase in children's use of digital media, both TV and touchscreen devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones), has been associated with developmental differences in Executive Functions (EF). It has been hypothesised that early exposure to attention-commanding and contingent stimulation provided by touchscreens may increase reliance on bottom-up perceptual processes and limit the opportunity for practice of voluntary (i.e., top-down) attention leading to differences in EF. This study tests the concurrent and longitudinal associations between touchscreen use (high use, HU ≥ 15 min/day; low use, LU < 15 min/day), and two components of EF (working-memory/cognitive-flexibility, and impulse/self-control), building explicitly on recent developmental models that point to a bidimensional structure of EF during toddlerhood and pre-school years. A longitudinal sample of 46 3.5-year-olds (23 girls) was tested on a battery of lab-based measures and matched at 12 months on a range of background variables including temperament. Touchscreen HU showed significantly reduced performance in lab-based Working Memory/Cognitive Flexibility, although this became non-significant when controlling for background TV. Impulse/Self-control was not significantly associated with touchscreen use but was negatively associated with non-child-directed television. Our results provide partial support for the hypothesis that using touchscreen devices might reduce capacity for top-down behaviour control, and indicate that broader media environment may be implicated in early executive function development. However, it may also be the case that individuals who are predisposed towards exogenous stimulation are more drawn to screen use. Future studies are needed to replicate findings, demonstrate causality, and investigate bidirectionality.
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114
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Schworer EK, Soltani A, Altaye M, Fidler DJ, Esbensen AJ. Cognitive flexibility assessment in youth with Down syndrome: Reliability, practice effects, and validity. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 133:104416. [PMID: 36603310 PMCID: PMC9852016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to switch between different mental sets, tasks, or strategies and is challenging for some individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The lack of reliable and valid cognitive flexibility measures for individuals with DS is a major barrier to clinical trials and intervention studies designed to address cognitive challenges specific to DS. To avoid measurement limitations that could confound interpretations of performance in clinical trials in children with DS, it is critical to use phenotype-sensitive and psychometrically sound measures of cognitive flexibility. AIM This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of three measures of cognitive flexibility including Rule-Shift, Weigl Sorting, and KiTAP Flexibility in a sample of 97 youth with DS aged 6-17 years old. METHOD Data were collected at two time points with a two-week interval. Parents also completed adaptive behavior and cognitive flexibility questionnaires. Child cognitive and language abilities were also assessed. RESULTS The Weigl Sorting met the most psychometric criteria, with adequate feasibility (≥ 80 %) and significant correlations with most of the broader developmental domains; however, the levels of test-retest reliability, practice effects, and convergent validity did not meet a priori criteria. Rule-Shift and KiTAP Flexibility measures did not have acceptable feasibility; although sensitivity and specificity analyses revealed that Rule-Shift may be appropriate for a subgroup of the participants. CONCLUSION No evaluated measures met all psychometric study criteria and, therefore, additional evaluation of cognitive flexibility measures is needed for use among individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Amanallah Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah J Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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115
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Reindl E, Völter CJ, Civelek Z, Duncan L, Lugosi Z, Felsche E, Herrmann E, Call J, Seed AM. The shifting shelf task: a new, non-verbal measure for attentional set shifting. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20221496. [PMID: 36651050 PMCID: PMC9845975 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Attentional set shifting is a core ingredient of cognition, allowing for fast adaptation to changes in the environment. How this skill compares between humans and other primates is not well known. We examined performance of 3- to 5-year-old children and chimpanzees on a new attentional set shifting task. We presented participants with two shelves holding the same set of four boxes. To choose the correct box on each shelf, one has to switch attention depending on which shelf one is currently presented with. Experiment 1 (forty-six 3- to 5-year olds, predominantly European White) established content validity, showing that the majority of errors were specific switching mistakes indicating failure to shift attention. Experiment 2 (one hundred and seventy-eight 3- to 6-year olds, predominantly European White) showed that older children made fewer mistakes, but if mistakes were made, a larger proportion were switching mistakes rather than 'random' errors. Experiment 3 (52 chimpanzees) established suitability of the task for non-human great apes and showed that chimpanzees' performance was comparable to the performance of 3- and 4-year olds, but worse than 5-year olds. These results suggest that chimpanzees and young children share attentional set shifting capacities, but that there are unique changes in the human lineage from 5 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Reindl
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - C. J. Völter
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Z. Civelek
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
| | - L. Duncan
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Z. Lugosi
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Public Policy, School of Education, Communication and Society, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - E. Felsche
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - E. Herrmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - J. Call
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
| | - A. M. Seed
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK
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Liu J, Taneepanichskul S, Zhang B, Xenos P. The Effect of a Single Bout of Chinese Archery on Core Executive Functions in Preadolescent Children in Shanghai. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1415. [PMID: 36674178 PMCID: PMC9859288 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent literature has demonstrated that acute physical activity benefits the transfer of executive functions. However, further studies indicated the type of variability in the effect of physical activity on executive functions. Therefore, this study initially explored the effect of a single bout of Chinese archery on subdomains of core EFs in preadolescent children; Method: Eligible participants were allocated either an intervention group (n = 36) or a control group (n = 36). The subjects in the intervention group received a 45-min Chinese archery session. The primary outcomes were the performance of core EFs (inhibition control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) in preadolescent children, assessed with psychological paradigms (Fish Flanker Task, N-Back Task, and DCCS (Border version), respectively). Paired t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the mean difference in the performance of core EFs within and between subjects, respectively; Results: Considering reaction time and accuracy, we explored the impressive performance in three cognitive tasks with acute Chinese archery; Conclusion: The finding suggests that a single bout of Chinese archery benefited three subdomains of core EFs in healthy preadolescent children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Liu
- School of Physical Education & Health, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai 201620, China
- College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | - Bo Zhang
- School of Physical Education & Health, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Peter Xenos
- Capitol University Research and Extension Office (CUREXO), Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City 9000, Philippines
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117
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Rodríguez C, Ferreira RA. To what extent is dot comparison an appropriate measure of approximate number system? Front Psychol 2023; 13:1065600. [PMID: 36704683 PMCID: PMC9873381 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1065600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Number sense has been systematically measured using dot comparison tasks. However, recent studies have reported that performance on dot comparison might be influenced inhibitory control and visual properties of dot arrays. In the present study, we analysed the influence of continuous magnitude, inhibitory control, and numerical ratio on the dot comparison performance of preschool children. Methods Participants were 517 preschool children from 13 different schools in Chile. Children completed a dot comparison and two inhibitory control tasks. Gebuis and Reynvoet method was used to create well-controlled dot arrays for use in the dot comparison task. A logistic mixed effects model was conducted to predict participants' dot comparison accuracy. Continuous magnitude and ratio were entered as level-1 predictors and inhibitory control as level-2 predictors. Results The results showed that all predictors made a significant contribution to dot comparison accuracy. Furthermore, a significant double interaction (inhibitory control x continuous magnitude) and a triple interaction (inhibitory control x continuous magnitude x ratio) showed that the contribution of inhibitory control skills in dot comparison accuracy depends on the continuous properties of dot arrays and ratio. Discussion These findings suggest that preschool children rely more on continuous magnitudes than numerosity in dot comparison tasks. They also indicate that the greater children's inhibitory control, the more able they are to respond based on numerosity in fully incongruent trials, particularly when ratio is low (easiest items). Taken together, the above findings support the competing processes account provided that both ANS and inhibitory control skills influence performance on dot comparison tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rodríguez
- Millennium Nucleus for the Science of Learning (MiNSoL), Talca, Chile,Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile,*Correspondence: Cristina Rodríguez,
| | - Roberto A. Ferreira
- Millennium Nucleus for the Science of Learning (MiNSoL), Talca, Chile,Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
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118
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Devlin BL, Paes TM, Geer EA, Bryant LM, Zehner TM, Korucu I, Morse K, Duncan RJ, Purpura DJ, Schmitt SA. Moving beyond dosage and adherence: A protocol for capturing dimensions of active child engagement as a measure of fidelity for social-emotional learning interventions. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1014713. [PMID: 36698587 PMCID: PMC9869279 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1014713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Social-emotional competencies are important for school-readiness and can be supported through social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions in the preschool years. However, past research has demonstrated mixed efficacy of early SEL interventions across varied samples, highlighting a need to unpack the black box of which early interventions work, under what conditions, and for whom. In the present article we discuss the critical implementation component of active child engagement in an intervention as a potential point of disconnect between the intervention as designed and as implemented. Children who are physically present but unengaged during an intervention may lead to decreased average impacts of an intervention. Furthermore, measuring young children's active engagement with an intervention may help to guide iterative intervention development. We propose a four-step protocol for capturing the multi-dimensional and varied construct of active child engagement in a SEL intervention. To illustrate the utility of the protocol, we apply it to data from a pilot study of a researcher-implemented, semi-structured block play intervention focused on supporting the development of SEL and math skills in preschoolers. We then present future directions for the integration of active participant engagement into the measurement of implementation of SEL interventions for young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna L. Devlin
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Tanya M. Paes
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Elyssa A. Geer
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Lindsey M. Bryant
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Tracy M. Zehner
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Irem Korucu
- Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kathleen Morse
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Robert J. Duncan
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - David J. Purpura
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Sara A. Schmitt
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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119
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Peretti G, Manzi F, Di Dio C, Cangelosi A, Harris PL, Massaro D, Marchetti A. Can a robot lie? Young children's understanding of intentionality beneath false statements. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/icd.2398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Peretti
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
| | - Federico Manzi
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
| | - Cinzia Di Dio
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
| | | | - Paul L. Harris
- Graduate School of Education Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Davide Massaro
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
| | - Antonella Marchetti
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
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120
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Shatskaya A, Gavrilova M, Chichinina E. Voluntariness and type of digital device usage: A study in terms of Vygotsky's cultural-historical perspective. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1111613. [PMID: 36949908 PMCID: PMC10026563 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1111613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In recent years, exposure to digital devices during the development stages of a child has been steadily increasing. Exploring the relationship between children's digital device exposure and their voluntariness still shows quite contradictory results. Screen time is the most studied factor on this issue. The purpose of the present study was to suggest the type of digital device used is another factor in addition to screen time. In accordance with the research hypothesis, the use of digital devices as a psychological means is related to higher voluntariness scores. Methods The study sample was recruited from Moscow kindergartens and schools: preschoolers aged 5-6 years (n = 408) and 6-7 years (n = 351) and schoolchildren aged 7-8 years (n = 253) and 9-10 years (n = 101). The study participants took part in a voluntariness assessment performed via executive functions' (EF) evaluation as well as in a semi-structured interview to identify the type and frequency of digital device usage. Results There are three findings of the present study, which are given as follows. First, the "frequency of digital device usage" predictor proved its statistical significance for verbal working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility at 7-8 years, and for verbal working memory at 6-7 years. Second, the number of children who use digital devices as a psychological means increases as they grow older. Third, the number of children who use digital devices as a psychological means tends to demonstrate higher mean scores for any executive function skills at 6-7 and 9-10 years and for visual and verbal working memory at 7-8 years. Multiple regression models did not confirm the significance of the "type of digital devices usage" predictor for executive function skills considering the participants' individual characteristics. Discussion "Type of digital devices usage" predictor is assumed to be more applicable to children at the end of primary school and older when exploring executive function skills in the context of children's digital device exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arina Shatskaya
- Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization, Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of Education, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Arina Shatskaya
| | - Margarita Gavrilova
- Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization, Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of Education, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Education Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Chichinina
- Department of Education Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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121
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Chen J, Zhao Y, Xu X, Liu J, Deng C. Predictive relations between executive function and Mandarin vocabulary ability among Uyghur-Mandarin bilingual preschoolers. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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122
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Waite J, Beck SR, Powis L, Oliver C. The Executive Function Account of Repetitive Behavior: Evidence From Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 128:49-65. [PMID: 36548376 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-128.1.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we focus on Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) to explore the associations between executive function deficits and repetitive behaviors. Thirty individuals with RTS completed direct assessments of inhibition, working memory and set-shifting. Informants completed repetitive behavior and executive function questionnaires. Repetitive questions were associated with poorer inhibition and working memory. Stereotypy was associated with poorer inhibition. Adherence to routines was associated with poorer set-shifting, but only on the parental report measure. No other associations were evident. There is evidence of an association between specific repetitive behaviors and executive functioning in RTS, suggesting executive dysfunction may underpin behavioral difference in RTS. The findings point towards specific associations that are of interest for further research across populations in which repetitive behaviors are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Waite
- Jane Waite, College of Health and Life Sciences, School of Psychology, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sarah R Beck
- Sarah R. Beck, Laurie Powis, and Chris Oliver, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Laurie Powis
- Sarah R. Beck, Laurie Powis, and Chris Oliver, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Chris Oliver
- Sarah R. Beck, Laurie Powis, and Chris Oliver, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
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123
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Brodsky JE, Bergson Z, Chen M, Hayward EO, Plass JL, Homer BD. Language, ambiguity, and executive functions in adolescents' theory of mind. Child Dev 2023; 94:202-218. [PMID: 36082877 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Executive functions' (EF) role in adolescents' advanced theory of mind (aToM) was examined. In Study 1, adolescents (N = 189 in 2017, Mage = 13.1 years, 55.6% female from racially/ethnically diverse schools) completed the Flexibility and Automaticity of Social Cognition task (FASC), and shifting and inhibition measures. Study 2 (N = 289 in 2018 and 2019, Mage = 15.7 years, 59.9% female, 56.4% Hispanic/Latino) replicated Study 1 in older adolescents using automated scoring of FASC flexibility. Flexibility of social cognition varied based on ambiguity and language use; automaticity of social cognition varied by ambiguity. The role of EF was less conclusive; shifting and inhibition predicted some flexibility and automaticity measures. Ambiguity, language, and EF, particularly shifting, influence aToM into adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ming Chen
- The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | - Jan L Plass
- CREATE Lab, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Bruce D Homer
- The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York City, New York, USA
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124
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Thériault-Couture F, Matte-Gagné C, Dallaire S, Brendgen M, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE, Séguin JR, Dionne G, Boivin M. Child Cognitive Flexibility and Maternal Control: A First Step toward Untangling Genetic and Environmental Contributions. J Genet Psychol 2023; 184:55-69. [PMID: 36102122 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2022.2121638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Executive functions (EF) play an essential role in many spheres of child development. Therefore, it is crucial to get a better understanding of their etiology. Using a genetic design that involved 934 twins (400 monozygotic), this study examined the etiology of cognitive flexibility, a component of EF, at 5 years of age and its phenotypic and etiological associations with maternal control. Cognitive flexibility was measured in a laboratory setting at 5 years of age using a well-known EF-task, i.e. the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS). Maternal control was measured using a self-report questionnaire. The univariate genetic model demonstrated that environmental factors mainly explained individual differences in preschoolers' performance on the DCCS task. A bivariate genetic model demonstrated that non-shared environmental mechanisms mainly explained the association (r = .-13) between maternal control and children's performance on the DCCS task. This study represents a preliminary step toward a better understanding of the genetic and environmental contributions underlying the relation between parenting behaviors and children's EF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samuel Dallaire
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mara Brendgen
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frank Vitaro
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Queebec, Canada
| | - Richard E Tremblay
- Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean R Séguin
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ginette Dionne
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel Boivin
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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125
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Zelazo PD, Carlson SM. Reconciling the Context-Dependency and Domain-Generality of Executive Function Skills from a Developmental Systems Perspective. JOURNAL OF COGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15248372.2022.2156515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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126
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Vernucci S, García-Coni A, Zamora EV, Gelpi-Trudo R, Andrés ML, Canet-Juric L. Age-related Changes in Task Switching Costs in Middle Childhood. JOURNAL OF COGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15248372.2022.2156514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Vernucci
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Ana García-Coni
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Eliana Vanesa Zamora
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Rosario Gelpi-Trudo
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - María Laura Andrés
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Lorena Canet-Juric
- Instituto de Psicología Básica, Aplicada y Tecnología
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina
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An fNIRS Study of Applicability of the Unity-Diversity Model of Executive Functions in Preschoolers. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121722. [PMID: 36552181 PMCID: PMC9776044 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive function (EF) includes a set of higher-order abilities that control one's actions and thoughts consciously and has a protracted developmental trajectory that parallels the maturation of the frontal lobes, which develop speedily over the preschool period. To fully understand the development of EF in preschoolers, this study examined the relationship among the three domains of executive function (cognitive shifting, inhibitory control, and working memory) to test the applicability of the unity-diversity model in preschoolers using both behavioral and fNIRS approaches. Altogether, 58 Chinese preschoolers (34 boys, 24 girls, Mage = 5.86 years, SD = 0.53, age range = 4.83-6.67 years) were administered the Dimensional Card Change Sort (DCCS), go/no-go, and missing scan task. Their brain activations in the prefrontal cortex during the tasks were examined using fNIRS. First, the behavioral results indicated that the missing scan task scores (working memory) correlated with the DCCS (cognitive shifting) and go/no-go tasks (inhibitory control). However, the latter two did not correlate with each other. Second, the fNIRS results demonstrated that the prefrontal activations during the working memory task correlated with those in the same regions during the cognitive shifting and inhibitory control tasks. However, the latter two still did not correlate. The behavioral and neuroimaging evidence jointly indicates that the unity-diversity model of EF does apply to Chinese preschoolers.
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128
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Morgan PL, Hu EH. Fixed Effect Estimates of Student-Teacher Racial or Ethnic Matching in U.S. Elementary Schools. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY 2022; 63:98-112. [PMID: 36643857 PMCID: PMC9838195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We used student fixed effects and statistical controls to investigate whether U.S. elementary students (N = 18,170) displayed greater academic achievement, social-emotional behavior, or executive functioning and were more likely to receive gifted or special education services when taught by teachers of the same race or ethnicity. We observed mostly null effects for student-teacher racial or ethnic matching across the study's 12 dependent measures in analyses adjusting for Type 1 error. For the full sample, matching resulted in lower science achievement (effect size [ES] = -.03 SD). For Black students, matching resulted in fewer internalizing problem behaviors (ES = 0.18 SD). We observed null effects for Hispanic students. Robustness checks including those stratified by race or ethnicity and biological sex or by prior levels of low or high level of achievement, behavior, or executive functioning largely supported the study's null findings. Exceptions were that matching resulted in fewer externalizing problem behaviors (ES = 0.22 SD) for Black girls and lower academic achievement (ES range = -0.04 to -0.14 SD) and fewer externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors (ES range = 0.24 to 0.33 SD) for students who had previously displayed low levels of academic, behavioral, or executive functioning. Collectively, the analyses provide limited support for student-teacher racial or ethnic matching as a school-based policy to address educational disparities in U.S. elementary schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L. Morgan
- Department of Education Policy Studies, Penn State
- Population Research Institute, Penn State
| | - Eric Hengyu Hu
- Department of Education Policy Studies, Penn State
- Population Research Institute, Penn State
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129
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Dryer A, Zhang X, England-Mason G, Atkinson L, Gonzalez A. Maternal sensitivity moderates the association between maternal history of childhood maltreatment and child executive function. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105933. [PMID: 36283274 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiences of childhood maltreatment are associated with a variety of negative outcomes throughout individuals' lives as well as disadvantaged cognitive and socioemotional development among their offspring. The mechanisms through which some children show resilience against the intergenerational transmission of risk, however, are less well understood. OBJECTIVE The current study focuses on a proximal parental factor that plays a central role in children's early cognitive development - maternal sensitivity - and examines whether it moderates the association between maternal history of childhood maltreatment and child executive function (EF). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Data were collected from a community sample of 139 mothers and their infants (51 % female) recruited from urban areas in Ontario, Canada. METHODS Maternal maltreatment history was assessed via self-report at child age 3 months. Maternal sensitivity was assessed observationally at child age 8 months, and child executive function was assessed using performance-based measures at child age 3 years. Hypotheses were tested through multiple regression models. RESULTS In the current sample, maternal maltreatment history was not associated with child EF on average. However, results were consistent with a moderation model, indicating that maternal maltreatment history was associated with lower levels of child EF only when mothers were relatively insensitive. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate the importance of considering sensitive parenting practices as a protective factor for children's cognitive development in the context of more distal risk factors such as mothers' history of childhood maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Dryer
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Xutong Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and the Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 3L8, Canada
| | - Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and the Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 3L8, Canada.
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130
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Chami S, Charalambous C, Knijnik SR, Docking K. Language and executive function skills as predictors of semantic fluency performance in pre-school children. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2022; 24:626-635. [PMID: 34866507 DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2021.2008005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: To explore how language and executive function skills of pre-school-aged children contribute to semantic fluency (a form of verbal fluency) performance. This study investigated effect of age and contribution of vocabulary and executive function on qualitative aspects of the semantic fluency task.Method: Forty typically developing Australian-English-speaking pre-school children, aged 4;0-5;11 (mean age = 55.5 months, SD = 5.21) participated. Eight assessment tasks were presented in random order examining semantic fluency, vocabulary knowledge and executive function. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses determined the extent to which measures of executive function and vocabulary accounted for fluency (number of words correctly produced) and qualitative aspects of the semantic fluency task (number of clusters, number of clustered words, number of switches).Result: While executive function and vocabulary were positively correlated with fluency and all qualitative measures of semantic fluency performance, they were not significant predictors of any aspect of task performance. Age and vocabulary were the only significant predictors of fluency, number of words clustered, and number of switches. Performance on these tasks was strongly related to vocabulary and automated retrieval processes.Conclusion: Pre-school children do not predominantly rely on executive function during semantic fluency. The influence that vocabulary has on semantic fluency task performance outweighs that accounted for by age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Chami
- Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carla Charalambous
- Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Macarthur Children's Developmental Clinic, StarKids Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stefani R Knijnik
- Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kimberley Docking
- Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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131
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Carpentier P, Morneau-Vaillancourt G, Aubé S, Matte-Gagné C, Denault AS, Brendgen M, Larose S, Petitclerc A, Ouellet-Morin I, Carbonneau R, Feng B, Séguin J, Côté S, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE, Dionne G, Boivin M. A sequential model of the contribution of preschool fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities to later school achievement. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276532. [PMID: 36399469 PMCID: PMC9674147 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study documented in two distinct population-based samples the contribution of preschool fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities to school achievement in primary school and examined the mediating role of crystallized abilities in this sequence of predictive associations. In both samples, participants were assessed on the same cognitive abilities at 63 months (sample 1, n = 1072), and at 41 and 73 months (sample 2, n = 1583), and then with respect to their school achievement from grade 1 (7 years) to grade 6 (12 years). Preschool crystallized abilities were found to play a key role in predicting school achievement. They contributed substantially to school achievement in the early school years, but more modestly in the later years, due to the strong auto-regression of school achievement. They also mediated the association between fluid abilities and later school achievement in the early grades of school, with the former having modest direct contribution to the latter in the later grades. These findings are discussed regarding their implication for preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophie Aubé
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Mara Brendgen
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Simon Larose
- Faculty of Education Science, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - René Carbonneau
- Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Bei Feng
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean Séguin
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvana Côté
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Frank Vitaro
- School of Psycho-Education, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Richard E. Tremblay
- Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ginette Dionne
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Michel Boivin
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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132
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Sukhikh VL, Veresov NN, Veraksa NE. Dramatic Perezhivanie as a driver of executive functions development through role-play in early childhood: Theoretical framework and experimental evidence. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1057209. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1057209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Role-play in early childhood is associated with development of executive functions (EFs), although study results remain inconsistent. Due to the complex nature of the role-play, the underlying mechanisms of these associations are not obvious. In this article, play is viewed in the framework of the cultural-historical approach as a special social situation that can become the social situation of development if it results in dramatic perezhivanie of a child. In this study, we compared the level of EFs and play behavior between two play contexts: play guided by an adult and one with less adult involvement. Play behavior was analyzed based on five behavioral measures suggested to be the markers of dramatic perezhivanie. Measures of EFs were taken before and after the experimental procedure. Results show that dramatic perezhivanie might be considered a driver of EFs development through role-play in early childhood. As well as this, the involvement of an adult into play was associated with different patterns of EFs dynamics before and after the intervention. Future work can investigate if the construct of dramatic perezhivanie, microsocial situation of development, and micro-crisis might explain variability of the study results on the association between the role-play and child development.
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133
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Hou XH, Liu Y, Li Y, Wang LY. Sequence of theory of mind acquisition in ethnic minority children in China: A comparison of Zhuang and Han samples. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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134
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Schmidt H, Daseking M, Gawrilow C, Karbach J, Kerner Auch Koerner J. Self-regulation in preschool: Are executive function and effortful control overlapping constructs? Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13272. [PMID: 35481663 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The concepts of executive function (EF) and effortful control (EC) are strikingly similar. EF originate from neurocognitive research and are described as an accumulation of cognitive processes that serve the goal-oriented self-regulation (SR) of an individual. EC originates from temperament research and is defined as the efficiency of executive attention, including the ability to inhibit a dominant response, to activate a subdominant response, to proceed in a planned manner and to recognize conflicts or errors. The aim of this article was to examine the association between the constructs of EF and EC at the preschool-age. Eighty-eight children (49 female; M-age = 3.93 years, SD = .78) were tested with a computerized battery designed to assess EF at 3-6 years of age (EF Touch). Children's parents completed questionnaires assessing EF impairments (BRIEF-P) and EC (CBQ). Associations between the constructs and their conceptual overlap were analyzed using correlations and confirmatory factor analyses. We found significant correlations between EF and EC measures. A one-factor confirmatory model fitted the data very well and indicated that EF and EC are indeed overlapping and highly similar constructs. Therefore, our results show that measures of EC and EF have substantial overlap in preschoolers and suggest an integrated model of self-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Schmidt
- Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,IDeA Research Center for Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Monika Daseking
- Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,IDeA Research Center for Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Caterina Gawrilow
- IDeA Research Center for Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Karbach
- IDeA Research Center for Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Julia Kerner Auch Koerner
- Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,IDeA Research Center for Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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135
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Chaku N, Barry K, Fowle J, Hoyt LT. Understanding patterns of heterogeneity in executive functioning during adolescence: Evidence from population-level data. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13256. [PMID: 35238432 PMCID: PMC9901488 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Executive functioning (EF) is fundamental to positive development. Yet, little is known about how to best characterize constellations of EF skills that may inform disparate associations between EF and behavior during adolescence. In the current study, cross-validated latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to derive profiles of EF based on measures of inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility using data from 11,672 youth (52.2% male, mean age = 9.91 years) in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. Four meaningful EF profiles emerged from the data representing Average EF, High EF, Low Inhibitory Control, and Low EF. Boys, youth from low-income households, and early developing youth were more likely to be in profiles distinguished by lower EF. Profile membership also predicted differences in externalizing, internalizing, and other problem behaviors assessed one year later. Findings indicate that youth may have distinct constellations of EF skills, underscoring the need for person-centered approaches that focus on patterns of individual characteristics.
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136
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Linking early maternal input during shared reading to later theory of mind through receptive language and executive function: A within- and between-family design. J Exp Child Psychol 2022; 223:105469. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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137
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Zonneveld AK, Serpell Z, Parr T, Ellefson MR. Executive function measurement in urban schools: Exploring links between performance-based metrics and teacher ratings. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13319. [PMID: 36106899 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
When compared to research centered on the executive function development of white, middle-class children, relatively little is known about their non-white, low socioeconomic status peers. In an effort to harmonize how executive functions are measured within under-represented contexts, the present study addresses gaps in the evaluation of everyday executive functioning to better understand whether behavior rating scales completed by teachers (BASC2EF - BASC executive function scale, 2nd edition; BASC3EF - BASC executive function scale, 3rd edition) capture distinctions between performance-based measures. This study includes two large samples of older, ethnic minority children from high-poverty backgrounds (Sample 1. N = 243; Mage = 9.28 years, SDage = 0.80; nfemale = 125; nAfricanAmerican = 216, nLatinAmerican = 15, nAsianAmerican = 6; Sample 2. N = 229; Mage = 10.02 years, SDage = 1.01; nfemale = 120; nAfricanAmerican = 132, nLatinAmerican = 92, nWhite = 3, nPacificIslander = 1). Based on structural equation models testing the links between computerized performance-based measures and the teacher rating scales, the results indicate that BASC2EF in its original form might be a good fit for some populations but there is not a strong factor structure for the current high-poverty samples. In addition, post-hoc analyses suggest that only including BASC2EF items also in BASC3EF or using BASC3EF is best practice for high-poverty populations. BASC3EF seems better able to capture different components of performance-driven tasks, whereas BASC2EF captures overall executive functioning better than individual tasks. These findings encourage continued questioning surrounding metrics used to assess everyday executive functions in older children from diverse backgrounds. HIGHLIGHTS: This study explores whether teacher ratings of children's everyday executive functioning (using standardized behavior rating scales) capture distinctions between performance-based measures. Results indicate that BASC2EF teacher rating scale (Karr & Garcia-Barrera, 2017) is not a good representation of everyday executive function behaviors by children from schools in high-poverty communities. The findings suggest that restricting BASC2EF analyses to only items included in BASC3EF (Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2015) or using BASC3EF for high-poverty populations. BASC3EF seems better able to capture the different components of performance-driven tasks, whereas BASC2EF captures overall executive functioning better than individual tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zewelanji Serpell
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Teresa Parr
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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138
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Estimating the Co-development of Executive Functions and Math Achievement Throughout the Elementary Grades Using a Cross-lagged Panel Model with Fixed Effects. CONTEMPORARY EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2022.102126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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139
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Eng CM, Pocsai M, Fulton VE, Moron SP, Thiessen ED, Fisher AV. Longitudinal investigation of executive function development employing task-based, teacher reports, and fNIRS multimethodology in 4- to 5-year-old children. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13328. [PMID: 36221252 PMCID: PMC10408588 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Increased focus on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and the use and accessibility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) have advanced knowledge on the interconnected nature of neural substrates underlying executive function (EF) development in adults and clinical populations. Less is known about the relationship between rsFC and developmental changes in EF during preschool years in typically developing children, a gap the present study addresses employing task-based assessment, teacher reports, and fNIRS multimethodology. This preregistered study contributes to our understanding of the neural basis of EF development longitudinally with 41 children ages 4-5. Changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) rsFC utilizing fNIRS, EF measured with a common task-based assessment (Day-Night task), and teacher reports of behavior (BRIEF-P) were monitored over multiple timepoints: Initial Assessment, 72 h follow-up, 1 Month Follow-up, and 4 Month Follow-up. Measures of rsFC were strongly correlated 72 h apart, providing evidence of high rsFC measurement reliability using fNIRS with preschool-aged children. PFC rsFC was positively correlated with performance on task-based and report-based EF assessments. Children's PFC functional connectivity at rest uniquely predicted later EF, controlling for verbal IQ, age, and sex. Functional connectivity at rest using fNIRS may potentially show the rapid changes in EF development in young children, not only neurophysiologically, but also as a correlate of task-based EF performance and ecologically-relevant teacher reports of EF in a classroom context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassondra M Eng
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Melissa Pocsai
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychology, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Virginia E Fulton
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Suanna P Moron
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Erik D Thiessen
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anna V Fisher
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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140
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Hofstee M, Huijding J, Cuevas K, Deković M. Self-regulation and frontal EEG alpha activity during infancy and early childhood: A multilevel meta-analysis. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13298. [PMID: 35737962 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Integrating behavioral and neurophysiological measures has created new and advanced ways to understand the development of self-regulation. Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to examine how self-regulatory processes are related to frontal alpha power during infancy and early childhood. However, findings across previous studies have been inconsistent. To address this issue, the current meta-analysis synthesized all prior literature examining associations between individual differences in self-regulation and frontal EEG alpha power (baseline and/or task). In total, 23 studies consisting of 1275 participants between 1 month and 6 years of age were included, which yielded 149 effect sizes. Findings of the three-level meta-analytic model demonstrated a non-significant overall association between self-regulation and frontal alpha power. Yet, significant moderating effects were found for self-regulation construct (emotion regulation, effortful control, executive function), self-regulation measurement (behavioral task, computer assessment, lab observation, questionnaire), and children's mean age. Self-regulation was only significantly correlated with frontal alpha power when studies focused on the executive functioning construct. Moreover, the use of behavioral tasks or questionnaires and a higher mean age of the children resulted in small but significant effect size estimates. Higher frontal alpha power values were related to higher order top-down mechanisms of self-regulation, indicating that these mechanisms might become stronger when the frontal cortex is sufficiently developed. The findings of the current meta-analysis highlight the importance of longitudinal analyses and multimethod approaches in future work to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the role of frontal EEG alpha activity in the etiology of individual differences in early self-regulation. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The first meta-analysis of individual differences in self-regulation and frontal EEG alpha power during infancy and early childhood demonstrated a non-significant overall association. Moderation analyses revealed that variations in frontal alpha power were significantly associated with executive function, but not with effortful control and emotion regulation. Frontal alpha power was related to variations in self-regulation when measured by behavioral tasks and questionnaires, but not via computer assessments and lab observations. The association between individual differences in self-regulation and frontal alpha power becomes significantly stronger with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Hofstee
- Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jorg Huijding
- Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberly Cuevas
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States
| | - Maja Deković
- Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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141
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Castillo A, Lopez LD. Studying hot executive function in infancy: Insights from research on emotional development. Infant Behav Dev 2022; 69:101773. [PMID: 36137464 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent calls have urged to bridge the fields of emotional and cognitive development to advance theoretical and empirical pursuits. Yet, despite notable overlap between research on executive function and emotion regulation, a uniting theory that informs future avenues of research is lacking. Infants are known to lack emotion regulation skills, as they are developing the abilities to regulate their emotions and coordinated responses. However, the field of emotional development demonstrates that at an early age, infants are adept at regulating their behaviors in response to others emotional reactions. Moreover, although classic delay of gratification tasks are fairly ecological measures, rarely are rules expressed to infants without emotions. This paper draws from recent interest in hot executive function to link infancy research on executive function and emotion. Hot executive function lends itself as a useful construct in this endeavor because it unites the study emotion and executive function. We offer a perspective that refines hot executive function within prominent emotion theories while discussing infant executive function and emotion empirical pursuits. Our perspective presents reliable paradigms from the field of emotional development to serve as tools for studying the development of hot executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lukas D Lopez
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, USA
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142
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Brooks SJ, Tian L, Parks SM, Stamoulis C. Parental religiosity is associated with changes in youth functional network organization and cognitive performance in early adolescence. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17305. [PMID: 36243789 PMCID: PMC9569366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22299-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Parental religious beliefs and practices (religiosity) may have profound effects on youth, especially in neurodevelopmentally complex periods such as adolescence. In n = 5566 children (median age = 120.0 months; 52.1% females; 71.2% with religious affiliation) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, relationships between parental religiosity and non-religious beliefs on family values (data on youth beliefs were not available), topological properties of youth resting-state brain networks, and executive function, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility were investigated. Lower caregiver education and family income were associated with stronger parental beliefs (p < 0.01). Strength of both belief types was correlated with lower efficiency, community structure, and robustness of frontoparietal control, temporoparietal, and dorsal attention networks (p < 0.05), and lower Matrix Reasoning scores. Stronger religious beliefs were negatively associated (directly and indirectly) with multiscale properties of salience and default-mode networks, and lower Flanker and Dimensional Card Sort scores, but positively associated with properties of the precuneus. Overall, these effects were small (Cohen's d ~ 0.2 to ~ 0.4). Overlapping neuromodulatory and cognitive effects of parental beliefs suggest that early adolescents may perceive religious beliefs partly as context-independent rules on expected behavior. However, religious beliefs may also differentially affect cognitive flexibility, attention, and inhibitory control and their neural substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skylar J. Brooks
- grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Luyao Tian
- grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA ,Massachusetts Institution of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Sean M. Parks
- grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA ,Massachusetts Institution of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Catherine Stamoulis
- Massachusetts Institution of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
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143
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Westerberg L, Schmitt SA, Eason SH, Purpura DJ. Home science interactions and their relation to children's science core knowledge in preschool. J Exp Child Psychol 2022; 222:105473. [PMID: 35717868 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A limited body of work has examined the nature and scope of young children's science-related activities outside of the school context, and thus there is little understanding or consensus regarding what comprises the home science environment (HSE; e.g., interactions, activities, resources) and how specific factors of the HSE relate to children's science performance. The two primary goals of this study were to (a) examine the factor structure of a parent-report measure of home science interactions and (b) evaluate how these factors relate to the science core knowledge of young children from families with low incomes. A total of 125 families with children aged 3 to 5 years (52 girls) participated in the study. Children were assessed on a measure of science core knowledge, and parents completed a brief questionnaire on their home science interactions that included questions pertaining to both home science disciplinary core idea (DCI) engagement and home science and engineering practice (SEP) engagement. Findings revealed that although separating home science interactions into distinct DCI and SEP factors represented the data well, the best overall representation of home science interactions was a one-factor model that included only home DCI engagement items. In addition, home DCI engagement was significantly predictive of children's science core knowledge over and above a large group of covariates, including children's age, race/ethnicity, sex, and performance on math, executive function, and vocabulary tasks as well as their parents' education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Westerberg
- Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Sara A Schmitt
- Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sarah H Eason
- Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - David J Purpura
- Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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144
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Tillem S, Conley MI, Baskin-Sommers A. Conduct disorder symptomatology is associated with an altered functional connectome in a large national youth sample. Dev Psychopathol 2022; 34:1573-1584. [PMID: 33851904 PMCID: PMC8753609 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Conduct disorder (CD), characterized by youth antisocial behavior, is associated with a variety of neurocognitive impairments. However, questions remain regarding the neural underpinnings of these impairments. To investigate novel neural mechanisms that may support these neurocognitive abnormalities, the present study applied a graph analysis to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data collected from a national sample of 4,781 youth, ages 9-10, who participated in the baseline session of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study (ABCD Study®). Analyses were then conducted to examine the relationships among levels of CD symptomatology, metrics of global topology, node-level metrics for subcortical structures, and performance on neurocognitive assessments. Youth higher on CD displayed higher global clustering (β = .039, 95% CIcorrected [.0027 .0771]), but lower Degreesubcortical (β = -.052, 95% CIcorrected [-.0916 -.0152]). Youth higher on CD had worse performance on a general neurocognitive assessment (β = -.104, 95% CI [-.1328 -.0763]) and an emotion recognition memory assessment (β = -.061, 95% CI [-.0919 -.0290]). Finally, global clustering mediated the relationship between CD and general neurocognitive functioning (indirect β = -.002, 95% CI [-.0044 -.0002]), and Degreesubcortical mediated the relationship between CD and emotion recognition memory performance (indirect β = -.002, 95% CI [-.0046 -.0005]). CD appears associated with neuro-topological abnormalities and these abnormalities may represent neural mechanisms supporting CD-related neurocognitive disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Tillem
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - May I Conley
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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145
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Schirmbeck K, Runge R, Rao N, Wang R, Richards B, Chan SWY, Maehler C. Assessing executive functions in preschoolers in Germany and Hong Kong: testing for measurement invariance. JOURNAL OF CULTURAL COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s41809-022-00112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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146
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Sociomoral Reasoning Skills during Childhood: A Comprehensive and Predictive Approach. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091226. [PMID: 36138963 PMCID: PMC9496755 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sociomoral reasoning (SMR) is an essential component of social functioning allowing children to establish judgments based on moral criteria. The progressive emergence and complexification of SMR during childhood is thought to be underpinned by a range of characteristics and abilities present in the preschool years. Past studies have mostly examined concurrent associations between individual factors and SMR. Using a more comprehensive and predictive approach to identify early predictors of school-age SMR would contribute to a more complete picture of SMR development. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of four domains of preschool predictors to SMR at school-age: demographic (age, sex, parental education), cognitive (executive and sociocognitive functions), behavioral (internalizing and externalizing behaviors), and familial (parent–child interactions, parental stress) factors. Parents of 122 children 3 to 5 years (M = 3.70, SD = 0.66 years, 51% girls) completed questionnaires and children were administered executive and sociocognitive tasks. Parent–child interactions were assessed using an observational approach. SMR was measured four years later using the SoMoral task. A four-step hierarchical regression analysis revealed that executive functions and internalizing problems were significant independent predictors of SMR. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the early precursors of SMR during childhood.
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147
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Stucke NJ, Stoet G, Doebel S. What are the kids doing? Exploring young children's activities at home and relations with externally cued executive function and child temperament. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13226. [PMID: 34989468 PMCID: PMC9540249 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Young children spend a lot of time at home, yet there is little empirical research on how they spend that time and how it relates to developmental outcomes. Prior research suggests less-structured time-where children practice making choices and setting goals-may develop self-directed executive function in 6-year-olds. But less-structured time may be related to executive function for other reasons-for example, because it provides opportunities to acquire conceptual knowledge relevant to using executive function on tasks. We thus tested the possibility that less-structured time is also related to younger children's externally cued executive function. In this remote online study, caregivers of 93 3- to 5-year-olds indicated the amount of time their child was typically spending in various activities while at home during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities were categorized as structured (primarily lessons with specific goals defined by adults or an app), less-structured (wide range of activities permitting choice and interaction with caregiver), passive (e.g., watching TV or videos), and primarily physical (e.g., bike riding). Children's externally cued executive function was assessed via the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS). Time and variety in less-structured activities were related to successful switching on the DCCS, controlling for age, family income, caregiver education, and verbal knowledge. Caregivers were more involved in less-structured versus structured activities. Caregiver ratings of children's temperament were related to how children's time was spent. These findings suggest several new avenues for studying young children's activities at home and their relations with developmental outcomes. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/3aGmpSnjuCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J. Stucke
- Department of PsychologyGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
| | - Gijsbert Stoet
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EssexColchesterC04 3SQUK
| | - Sabine Doebel
- Department of PsychologyGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVirginiaUSA
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148
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Romeo RR, Flournoy JC, McLaughlin KA, Lengua LJ. Language development as a mechanism linking socioeconomic status to executive functioning development in preschool. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13227. [PMID: 34981872 PMCID: PMC9250946 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is related to disparities in the development of both language and executive functioning (EF) skills. Emerging evidence suggests that language development may precede and provide necessary scaffolding for EF development in early childhood. The present preregistered study investigates how these skills co-develop longitudinally in early childhood and whether language development explains the relationship between SES and EF development. A socioeconomically diverse sample of 305 children completed repeated assessments of language (sentence comprehension) and EF (cognitive flexibility, behavioral inhibition, and cognitive inhibition) at four waves spaced 9 months apart from ages 3 to 5 years. Bivariate latent curve models with structured residuals were estimated to disaggregate between-person and within-person components of stability and change. Results revealed bidirectional relationships between language and EF across all waves. However, at 3 years, language comprehension more strongly predicted EF than the reverse; yet by 5 years, the bidirectional effects across domains did not significantly differ. Children from higher-SES backgrounds exhibited higher initial language and EF skills than children from lower-SES families, though SES was not associated with either rate of growth. Finally, early language-mediated the association between SES and early EF skills, and this model outperformed a reverse direction mediation. Together, results suggest that EF development is driven by early language development, and that SES disparities in EF are explained, at least in part, by early differences in language comprehension. These findings have implications for early interventions to support children's language skills as a potential pathway to improving early EF development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Romeo
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - John C Flournoy
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katie A McLaughlin
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liliana J Lengua
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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149
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Bachman HJ, Miller P, Elliott L, Duong S, Libertus M, Votruba-Drzal E. Associations among socioeconomic status and preschool-aged children's, number skills, and spatial skills: The role of executive function. J Exp Child Psychol 2022; 221:105453. [PMID: 35605526 PMCID: PMC10248184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Extensive literature has documented socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in young children's standardized math achievement, which primarily reflect differences in basic number and arithmetic skills. In addition, growing evidence indicates that direct assessments of executive function (EF) both predict standardized math achievement and mediate SES differences in standardized math tests. However, early spatial skills and children's approximate number system (ANS) acuity, critical components of later math competence, have been largely absent in this past research. The current study examined SES associations with multiple direct assessments of early ANS, cardinality, and spatial skills, as well as standardized math achievement, in a socioeconomically diverse sample of 4-year-old children (N = 149). Structural equation modeling revealed SES effect sizes of .21 for geometric sensitivity skills, .23 for ANS acuity, .39 for cardinality skills, and .28 for standardized math achievement. Furthermore, relations between SES and children's spatial skills, ANS acuity, cardinality, and standardized math skills were mediated by a composite measure of children's EF skills. Implications of pervasive SES disparities across multiple domains of early math development, as well as the mitigating role of EF, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather J Bachman
- Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Portia Miller
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Leanne Elliott
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Shirley Duong
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Melissa Libertus
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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150
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Koepp AE, Gershoff ET, Castelli DM, Bryan AE. Measuring children's behavioral regulation in the preschool classroom: An objective, sensor-based approach. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13214. [PMID: 34919315 PMCID: PMC9203595 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Children's abilities to regulate their behaviors are critical for learning and development, yet researchers lack an objective, precise method for assessing children's behavioral regulation in their everyday environments such as their classrooms. This study tested a sensor-based approach to assess preschool children's behavioral regulation objectively, precisely, and naturalistically. Children wore accelerometer devices as they engaged in center-based play in their preschool classrooms for roughly 45 min (N = 50 children, 48% female, mean age = 4.5 years). Set to record data each second, these devices collected information about children's movement (N = 140,564 observations). From these data, the authors extracted concrete behaviors hypothesized to index behavioral regulation and compared them with teacher and observer ratings of the same. Initiating movement more frequently, staying seated in activities for shorter amounts of time, and spending a greater amount of time in motion were related to lower ratings of attention and inhibitory control by teachers and by observers of classroom group time, median r = .45, p < .01. These same objectively measured behaviors showed only weak associations with children's performance on assessments of cognitive regulation, median r = .11, p = .47. The findings indicate that ambulatory accelerometers can capture movement-based indicators of children's behavioral regulation in the classroom setting and that performance on measures of cognitive regulation does not strongly predict children's behavior in the classroom. As an unobtrusive and objective measure, actigraphy may become an important tool for studying children's behavioral regulation in everyday contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Koepp
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Gershoff
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Darla M Castelli
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Amy E Bryan
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
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