title: Working memory and inhibitory control in visually guided manual search in toddlers.
abstract: Toddlers undergo a transition at about 2.5-3 years-of-age that dramatically improves their ability to search for hidden objects. The development of these skills seems to depend on the development of executive functions. We used a correlational design to investigate which components of executive function might be involved in this improved search. Three tests of working memory did not correlate with search performance, but a test of inhibitory/cognitive control was associated with performance increases. Improvement seemed to be the result of control of visual attention and responding in the face of misleading visual events and not the result of improvements in working memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
authors.forename: Iris L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Berthier
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cognitive control; executive functions; manual search; prefrontal cortex