title: Working memory updating and the development of rule-guided behavior.
abstract: The transition from middle childhood into adolescence is marked by both increasing independence and also extensive change in the daily requirements of familial demands, social pressures, and academic achievement. To manage this increased complexity, children must develop the ability to use abstract rules that guide the choice of behavior across a range of circumstances. Here, we tested children through adults in a task that requires increasing levels of rule abstraction, while separately manipulating competition among alternatives in working memory. We found that age-related differences in rule-guided behavior can be explained in terms of improvement in rule abstraction, which we suggest involves a working memory updating mechanism. Furthermore, family socioeconomic status (SES) predicted change in rule-guided behavior, such that higher SES predicted better performance with development. We discuss these results within a working memory gating framework for abstract rule-guided behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, United States. Electronic address: Dima_Amso@Brown.edu.
authors.forename: Dima
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, United States.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McShane
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Badre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Development; Executive functions; Policy abstraction; Rule-guided behavior; Socioeconomic status; Working memory