title: Further examination of the immediate impact of television on children's executive function.
abstract: Three studies examined the short-term impact of television (TV) on children's executive function (EF). Study 1 (N = 160) showed that 4- and 6-year-olds' EF is impaired after watching 2 different fast and fantastical shows, relative to that of children who watched a slow, realistic show or played. In Study 2 (N = 60), 4-year-olds' EF was as depleted after watching a fast and fantastical educational show as it was after a fast and fantastical entertainment 1, relative to that of children who read a book based on the educational show. Study 3 (N = 80) examined whether show pacing or fantasy was more influential, and found that only fantastical shows, regardless of their pacing, disrupted 4-year-olds' EF. Taken together, these studies show that 10-20 min watching televised fantastical events, relative to other experiences, results in lower EF in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Angeline S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lillard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Marissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Drell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Eve M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Richey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boguszewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013690:Television