title: Inhibition difficulties in preterm children: Developmental delay or persistent deficit?
abstract: Among executive functions (EFs), research has highlighted specific inhibition difficulties in preterm children. The present paper reviews and classifies the studies that assessed response inhibition and interference control abilities in preterm children and adolescents aged 3 to 16 years. Most behavioral studies agree on a developmental delay at early school age in inhibition abilities and a catch-up before adolescence, with lesser response inhibition difficulties at pre-adolescence. However, persisting interference control difficulties have been reported into early adulthood. These results are discussed, along with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings. Finally, this paper outlines methodological issues that need to be overcome in order to define the developmental trajectory of inhibition abilities in the preterm population.
authors.affiliation: a Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology , University of Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Réveillon
authors.affiliation: b Division of Development and Growth, Department of Pediatrics , University Hospital of Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Petra S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hüppi
authors.affiliation: a Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology , University of Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Koviljka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barisnikov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male
keywords: Assessment tools; Interference control; Maturational delay; Prematurity; Response inhibition