Executive Control, the Regulation of Goal-Directed Behaviors, and the Impact of Dementing Illness

Research has examined the impact of poor sleep on executive control and related abilities, but the inverse relationship has received less attention. Youth completed objective executive control tasks in childhood ( N = 208; Mage = 10.03; 50.5% girls) and self-report measures of sleep–wake problems and daytime sleepiness in early adolescence ( Mage = 12.00). Poorer interference suppression and flexible shifting abilities both predicted sleep–wake problems, but response inhibition and working memory did not. For daytime sleepiness, interference suppression was the only significant predictor among executive control components. Socioeconomic status did not moderate any of these associations. Findings have implications for targeting specific executive control abilities in childhood to improve sleep outcomes later in development.

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Os efeitos da aprendizagem da esgrima sobre o controle executivo da memória

10.25242/8868113820212410 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriel MenezesPaes Rodrigues ◽

Nilo Terra Arêas Neto

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Learning Difficulties ◽

Field Research ◽

School Failure ◽

Before And After ◽

Brazilian Students ◽

And Performance ◽

The Impact ◽

Dependent Samples ◽

Learning And Performance

Treated as one of the biggest challenges in the Brazilian educational system, school failure, despite being multi-causal, is closely linked to learning difficulties associated with aspects of cognition, with special attention to the Executive Control of Memory, which in this study will be represented by the variables: Working Memory (MT), Concentrated Attention (AC) and Motor Reaction Time (TRM). Under neuropsychological aspects, the executive control of memory comprises closely linked phenomena and mechanisms and learning, such as: cognitive flexibility, decision making, attention mechanisms, inhibitory control, selection and integration of current information with information already memorized, in addition to planning and monitoring their own learning and performance. This form of cognitive ability is defined by renowned researchers in the “field” as being preponderant to human learning and performance. Dysfunctions in the executive control of memory are commonly a reflection of innate or non-innate psychopathological issues, may be associated with other comorbidities, and are determinants of school failure in a significant number of Brazilian students. Thus, the main objective of this research project is to verify the impact of the practice of the fighting modality Fencing on the executive control of the memory of students from the public school system, participants of this action research, included in psychopedagogical care for issues related to learning difficulties cognitive. The Field Research technique will be used in this study, with the process of testing the variables under study in moments before and after the intervention with fencing classes. The data obtained in the testing process will be treated in a descriptive statistical perspective. For the inference of the data obtained, the Student T Test for dependent samples will be used. To verify the distribution of data, the Shapiro-Wilk test will be used. As a result, research participants are expected to obtain statistically significant results in the studied variables.

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Latent variable evidence on the interplay between language switching frequency and executive control in Spanish-Catalan bilinguals

International Journal of Bilingualism ◽

10.1177/1367006920902525 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (5-6) ◽

pp. 912-930 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Victor A. Sanchez-Azanza ◽

Raúl López-Penadés ◽

Eva Aguilar-Mediavilla ◽

Daniel Adrover-Roig

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Natural Language ◽

Language Proficiency ◽

Executive Control ◽

Age Of Acquisition ◽

Switching Frequency ◽

Language Switching ◽

Second Language Proficiency ◽

Related Factors ◽

The Impact

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: We characterized the impact of several bilingualism-related factors on the executive control of Spanish-Catalan bilinguals. Design/methodology/approach: Participants self-reported information regarding their age of acquisition, second language proficiency and frequency of natural language switching, and performed non-linguistic tasks tapping into specific executive control subcomponents, including inhibition, switching and updating. Data and analysis: Data were analyzed by means of a structural equation model (SEM) approach. Findings/conclusions: Results revealed that the frequency of natural language switching positively modulated the executive control performance of Spanish-Catalan bilinguals, while neither age of acquisition nor second language proficiency had an effect. Moreover, we found that the impact of natural language switching exerted general-processing influences, affecting all subcomponents of executive control. Findings are discussed in relation to context-specific effects on the cognitive system of a particular bilingual population. Originality: The current study applied an SEM approach to provide new evidence on the previously ambiguous relation between bilingualism-related factors and executive control. Significance/implications: Our findings suggest that the frequency of natural language switching does globally influence the executive control of Spanish-Catalan bilinguals.

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Effects of dense code-switching on executive control

Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism ◽

10.1075/lab.15052.hof ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 648-668 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Julia Hofweber ◽

Theodoros Marinis ◽

Jeanine Treffers-Daller

Keyword(s):

Executive Functioning ◽

Executive Control ◽

Flanker Task ◽

Code Switching ◽

Switching Frequency ◽

Conflict Monitoring ◽

Control Networks ◽

Dense Code ◽

Executive System ◽

The Impact

Abstract Bilingualism is reported to re-structure executive control networks, but it remains unknown which aspects of the bilingual experience cause this modulation. This study explores the impact of three code-switching types on executive functions: (1) alternation, (2) insertion, and (3) dense code-switching or congruent lexicalisation. Current models hypothesise that different code-switching types challenge different aspects of the executive system because they vary in the extent and scope of language separation. Two groups of German-English bilinguals differing in dense code-switching frequency participated in a flanker task under conditions varying in degree of trial-mixing and resulting demands to conflict-monitoring. Bilinguals engaging in more dense code-switching showed inhibitory advantages in the condition requiring most conflict-monitoring. Moreover, dense code-switching frequency correlated positively with monitoring skills. This suggests that dense code-switching is a key experience shaping bilinguals’ executive functioning and highlights the importance of controlling for participants’ code-switching habits in bilingualism research.

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The Relation of Childhood Physical Activity and Aerobic Fitness to Brain Function and Cognition: A Review

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2013-0125 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 138-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

Naiman A. Khan ◽

Charles H. Hillman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Executive Control ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Control Function ◽

Future Research ◽

Brain Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Physical Activity ◽

The Impact

Physical inactivity has been shown to increase the risk for several chronic diseases across the lifespan. However, the impact of physical activity and aerobic fitness on childhood cognitive and brain health has only recently gained attention. The purposes of this article are to: 1) highlight the recent emphasis for increasing physical activity and aerobic fitness in children’s lives for cognitive and brain health; 2) present aspects of brain development and cognitive function that are susceptible to physical activity intervention; 3) review neuroimaging studies examining the cross-sectional and experimental relationships between aerobic fitness and executive control function; and 4) make recommendations for future research. Given that the human brain is not fully developed until the third decade of life, preadolescence is characterized by changes in brain structure and function underlying aspects of cognition including executive control and relational memory. Achieving adequate physical activity and maintaining aerobic fitness in childhood may be a critical guideline to follow for physical as well as cognitive and brain health.

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The Impact of Game-Based Task-Shifting Training on Motivation and Executive Control in Children with ADHD

Journal of Cognitive Enhancement ◽

10.1007/s41465-018-0083-2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 64-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sandra Dörrenbächer ◽

Jutta Kray

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Task Shifting ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

The Impact

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Twenty-Four Hours of Total Sleep Deprivation Selectively Impairs Attentional Networks

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169/a000133 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 115-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Davide Jugovac ◽

Corrado Cavallero

Keyword(s):

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Executive Control ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Attention Network Test ◽

Control Efficacy ◽

Performance Deficits ◽

Attentional Deficits ◽

Attentional Networks ◽

The Impact ◽

Phasic Alerting

Performance decrements after sleep loss have been extensively studied and are usually attributed to generic attentional deficits. This claim, however, is based on the view of attention as a unitary construct, despite evidence that it should be considered a multidimensional cognitive ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of one night of sleep deprivation on the efficiency of three attentional networks, defined by Posner and Raichle (1994) in anatomical and functional terms, as alerting, orienting, and executive control. Thirty participants performed the Attention Network Test at 9:00 a.m. following two different sleep conditions: baseline (a normal night of sleep) and deprivation (24 hrs of wakefulness). Results showed an overall slowing in reaction times and a significant decrease in accuracy after sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation selectively affected the three attentional networks, given that only executive control efficacy significantly decreased after sleep deprivation. By contrast, phasic alerting and orienting showed no differences in the two sleep conditions. Thus, performance deficits following sleep deprivation do not reflect global attentional deficits.

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The Impact of a Motor-Cognitive Remediation Program on Attentional Functions of Preschoolers With ADHD Symptoms

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054712468485 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 1121-1129 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nicole Chevalier ◽

Véronique Parent ◽

Mélanie Rouillard ◽

France Simard ◽

Marie-Claude Guay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Imagery ◽

Executive Control ◽

Cognitive Remediation ◽

Control Group ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Attention And Executive Control ◽

Visual Motor ◽

The Impact ◽

Imagery Techniques ◽

Experimental Group

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of the motor-cognitive remediation program (MCRP) that uses sensorimotor and visual-motor imagery techniques on attentional functions in preschoolers with ADHD symptoms. Method: A total of 15 high-risk preschoolers were selected based on high ADHD symptoms. An experimental group participated in the MCRP and was compared with a control group. The MCRP consisted of 30 activities, 3 times a week, during 12 weeks. Results: Children in the experimental group improved significantly for orienting (selective attention) and executive control (inhibition, stopping, and engaging mental operations) compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results are a first step to support the postulate that training specific attentional functions by sensorimotor activities and visual-motor imagery has an impact on the cognitive network of attention. This study suggests the potential value of MCRP addressed to preschoolers with ADHD symptoms.

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