Examining the development of attention and executive functions in children with a novel paradigm.
The development of attention and executive functions in normal children (7-12 years) was investigated using a novel selective reaching task, which involved reaching as rapidly as possible towards a target, while at times having to ignore a distractor. The information processing paradigm allowed the measurement of various distinct dimensions of behaviour within a single task. The largest improvements in vigilance, set-shifting, response inhibition, selective attention, and impulsive responding were observed to occur between the ages of 8 and 10, with a plateau in performance between 10 and 12 years of age. These findings, consistent with a step-wise model of development, coincide with the observed developmental spurt in frontal brain functions between 7 and 10 years of age, and indicate that attention and executive functions develop in parallel. This task appears to be a useful research tool in the assessment of attention and executive functions, within a single task. Thus it may have a role in determining which cognitive functions are most affected in different childhood disorders.
Klimkeit
Ester I
EI
School of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Australia. Ester.Klimkeit@med.monash.edu.au
Mattingley
Jason B
JB
Sheppard
Dianne M
DM
Farrow
Maree
M
Bradshaw
John L
JL
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis