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Ruffini C, Osmani F, Bigozzi L, Pecini C. Semantic fluency in 3-6 years old preschoolers: which executive functions? Child Neuropsychol 2024; 30:563-581. [PMID: 37401450 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2230637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Semantic Fluency (SF) increases with age, along with the lexicon and the strategies to access it. Among the cognitive processes involved in controlling lexical access, Executive Functions (EF) play an essential role. Nevertheless, which EF, namely inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, are specifically tapped by SF during preschool years, when these basic EF components are developing and differentiating, is still unknown. The study had a two-fold aim: 1. to analyze in preschoolers the role of EF basic components on SF; 2. to investigate if EF mediated the effect of age on SF. A total of 296 typically developing preschoolers (M age = 57.86; SD = 9.91; month range = 33-74) were assessed with an SF task and EF tasks measuring the main EF basic components. Results showed that during preschool, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were significant predictors of SF, explaining 27% of its variance. Moreover, the effect of age on the SF task performance correlated with the improvement of these EF components. This study supports the importance of considering cognitive control processes in 3-6 year-old preschoolers as they underline important competencies for the child's development, such as the ability to quickly access vocabulary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Ruffini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Fatbardha Osmani
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Lucia Bigozzi
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Chiara Pecini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
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Severo M, Ventriglio A, Bellomo A, Iuso S, Petito A. Maternal perinatal depression and child neurocognitive development: A relationship still to be clarified. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1151897. [PMID: 37020735 PMCID: PMC10067625 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1151897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy frequently is associated with emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression. Perinatal depression has an incidence of around 12%. Only recently researcher put the attention on the effects of pre- and postpartum psychopathology on infant neurocognitive development. Neurobiology studies indicate that perinatal maternal depression can significantly affect the structure and function of children's prefrontal cortex and modulate the development of cognitive abilities from intrauterine life. On the topic, the scientific literature appears ambiguous, reporting mixed results. Some studies have found no significant differences in developmental outcomes between prenatal and postpartum exposure to maternal depression, others have suggested a greater burden of depression in pregnancy than in postpartum, and still others have emphasized the role of chronicity of symptoms rather than the period of onset. Few studies have examined the effects of different developmental trajectories of maternal depression on children's neurocognitive outcomes. The assessment of maternal health has for years been limited to postpartum depression often neglecting the timing of onset, the intensity of symptoms and their chronicity. These aspects have received less attention than they deserve, especially in relation to the effects on children's neurocognitive development. The aim of this Perspective was to highlight inconsistencies and gaps that need to be filled in the approach to the study of this problem. Given the wide heterogeneity of data in the current literature, further studies are needed to clarify these interactions. This Perspective provides an overview of current progress, future directions, and a presentation of the authors' views on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Severo
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Ventriglio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Iuso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Petito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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Clark HM, Grogan-Kaylor AC, Galano MM, Stein SF, Graham-Bermann SA. Preschoolers' Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Their Speeded Control Abilities Eight Years Later: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP18496-NP18523. [PMID: 34351251 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211035883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Executive functioning (EF), or a set of related cognitive skills that facilitate goal-oriented behavior, is a critical aspect of adaptive development. Mounting research indicates that exposure to environmental threats during the preschool years jeopardizes EF; however, the extent and mechanisms through which early exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) influences children's EF are unknown. Using data from an eight-year longitudinal investigation of mothers who had experienced IPV and their preschool-aged children (N = 120), this study examined the relative influence of recent and remote IPV exposure on speeded control-a component of EF influenced by processing speed-in late childhood. Results indicated that preschoolers' IPV exposure had a significant negative impact on their speeded control eight years later, and this relation was mediated by the remote effects of IPV on their mothers. Specifically, IPV was positively associated with maternal depression, which in turn contributed to greater use of negative parenting strategies when children were of preschool age. Children's IPV exposure during late childhood was not predictive of their concurrent speeded control. These findings lend further evidence to the notion that the preschool years are a sensitive period for the mastery of EF skills and that IPV exposure is a distinct risk factor that can have protracted effects on children's cognitive development. Further, this study points to modifiable environmental risk factors, which, through targeted prevention and intervention efforts, could promote EF across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sara F Stein
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Bai J, Huang H, Ouyang H. Effects of Group-Play Moderate to Vigorous Intensity Physical Activity Intervention on Executive Function and Motor Skills in 4- to 5-Year-Old Preschoolers: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychol 2022; 13:847785. [PMID: 35783790 PMCID: PMC9240218 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.847785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of group-play intervention on executive function (EF) in preschoolers. This group-play intervention was integrated as moderate to vigorous physical activity and cognitively loaded exercise to promote EF in preschoolers. An 8-week group-play MVPA intervention program, consisting of a series of outdoor physical and cognitively loaded games, was designed to improve preschoolers' EF. This intervention program was implemented in group-play form, and conducted by teachers who received standardized training before the intervention. Two classes of second grade preschoolers (N = 62) were randomly allocated to experimental (n = 30, M age = 4.16, SD = 0.29) and control (n = 32, M age = 4.7, SD = 0.43) groups. The intervention group received the intervention three times a week, while the control group exercised as usual in preschool. Before, in the middle of, and after the intervention, 10-m running, standing broad jump, throwing, body flexion, balance beam, and skip jump were assessed as tests of motor skills. In addition, three components of EF were measured separately before, in the middle of, and after the intervention: inhibitory control was assessed by using the silly sound Stroop task, working memory was tested using the empty house task, and shifting was assessed using the dimensional change card sorting task. Although both groups showed an increasing trend in terms of motor skills and EF during the intervention, the increasing amounts of the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group. The findings of the present study suggested that group-play intervention has positive effects on aspects of EF in addition to motor skills in preschoolers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Bai
- College of Preschool Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Heqing Huang
- College of Preschool Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Huahong Ouyang
- College of Teacher Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
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Power J, van IJzendoorn M, Lewis AJ, Chen W, Galbally M. Maternal perinatal depression and child executive function: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2021; 291:218-234. [PMID: 34049191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal depression during the perinatal period predicts adverse developmental outcomes for children, via poorly understood mechanisms. One plausible pathway may involve child executive function, a suite of cognitive capacities associated with social, emotional and educational outcomes. Systematic review and meta-analysis are applied to evaluate evidence of association between maternal perinatal depression and child executive function. METHODS Medline, Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, and SCOPUS were searched for relevant articles to August 2020, with hand-search of relevant bibliographies. Original research published in English measuring maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the first year postpartum, and child executive function outcomes at any age was included. 27 studies met criteria for review. 16 studies reporting raw data of the association between depressive symptoms and executive function were used for meta-analysis. RESULTS Our systematic review identified inadequate assessment of maternal depression, and unreliable measures of executive function in many studies. Assessment of confounders was also inconsistent. Our meta-analysis identified a small, statistically significant relationship between perinatal depression and child executive function (effect size r = 0.07; 95% CI 0.03-0.10); equivalent to Cohen's d = 0.14. LIMITATIONS Variable quality of available studies leads to cautious interpretation of results. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that maternal perinatal depression does have an impact on executive function in offspring. Future studies must use robust measurement of depression and executive function, and account for the chronicity of maternal depression, and developmental context to produce meaningful results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Power
- University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia; Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, Victoria; Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria.
| | - Marinus van IJzendoorn
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew J Lewis
- Murdoch University, Discipline of Psychology, Perth, Australia
| | - Wai Chen
- University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia; Murdoch University, Discipline of Psychology, Perth, Australia; Mental Health Service, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Australia; CAMHS, Pilbara Mental Health, Australia; Postgraduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Megan Galbally
- University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia; Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, Victoria; Murdoch University, Discipline of Psychology, Perth, Australia
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Huhdanpää H, Klenberg L, Westerinen H, Bergman PH, Aronen ET. Impairments of executive function in young children referred to child psychiatric outpatient clinic. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 24:95-111. [PMID: 30052056 DOI: 10.1177/1359104518786537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have reported on the quantity and quality of executive function (EF) deficits in young children referred to child psychiatric outpatient clinic with multiple psychiatric symptoms. We evaluated the EF deficits with the Attention and Executive Function Rating Inventory-Preschool (ATTEX-P) filled out by day care teachers for 4- to 7-year-old clinical group ( n = 171) and reference group ( n = 709). Family background information was collected from all families by parent questionnaire. Diagnoses of the referred children were collected from medical records. Clinical group exhibited higher mean ranks across the ATTEX-P Total score and all nine subscales than reference group ( p < .001). Most of the children in the clinical group (58.5%) showed a significant amount of EF deficits (ATTEX-P Total score over clinical cut-off) including distractibility (55.6%) and impulsivity (53.8%) regardless of their diagnoses. In a multiple logistic regression model (controlling for age, gender and parental education), children in the clinical group had increased risk (odds ratio (OR)) = 10.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [6.88, 16.2], p < .001) for scoring over the clinical cut-off point on the ATTEX-P Total score. Assessment of EFs should be a routine part of the treatment plan in young children referred to child psychiatric outpatient clinic as it may guide the treatment choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Huhdanpää
- 1 Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Child Psychiatry, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | - Liisa Klenberg
- 2 Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Westerinen
- 3 Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | - Paula Hannele Bergman
- 4 Biostatistics Consulting Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | - Eeva Tuulikki Aronen
- 1 Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Child Psychiatry, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
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van Dijk R, Deković M, Bunte TL, Schoemaker K, Zondervan-Zwijnenburg M, Espy KA, Matthys W. Mother-Child Interactions and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Preschoolers over Time: Inhibitory Control as a Mediator. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 45:1503-1517. [PMID: 28138808 PMCID: PMC5655588 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-016-0258-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has shown links between parenting and externalizing behavior problems in young children over time. Associations between inhibitory control, one of the executive functions, and externalizing behavior problems are widely established as well. Yet, the role of inhibitory control in the maintenance and change of externalizing behavior problems over time remains unclear. We examined whether inhibitory control could explain the link between mother-child interactions measured on a moment-to-moment timescale and preschoolers’ externalizing behavior problems as reported by teachers. With a sample of 173 predominantly clinically referred preschoolers (76.9% boys) we tested a longitudinal model proposing that affective dyadic flexibility and maternal negative affect predict as well as interact in predicting hyperactive/impulsive behavior and aggressive behavior, with preschoolers’ inhibitory control as a mediator. Our results provide support for this model for preschoolers’ hyperactive/impulsive behavior, but not for aggressive behavior. Hence, inhibitory control is identified as a mechanism linking the content and structure of mother-child interactions to preschoolers’ hyperactivity and impulsivity over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne van Dijk
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maja Deković
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa L. Bunte
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Schoemaker
- Department of Clinical Child & Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kimberly A. Espy
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Walter Matthys
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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