Common mechanisms of executive attention underlie executive function and effortful control in children

Tiego, Jeggan; Bellgrove, Mark A.; Whittle, Sarah; Pantelis, Christos; Testa, Renée

doi:10.1111/desc.12918

Cited by 50 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 165 publications

(308 reference statements)

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“…A bifactor model of these EATQ-R EC subscales in a large combined adolescent sample found common EC and an activation-control specific factors (the common EC factor fully accounted for the attentional control and inhibitory control items; Snyder, Gulley, et al, 2015). This structure replicated in a hold-out sample (Snyder, Gulley, et al, 2015) and an independent study (Tiego et al, 2020), and the factors were related to multiple life outcomes (common EC-related negative emotionality, depression and anxiety symptoms, antisocial behavior, and grades, activation control-specific related to negative emotionality, fear, and harm avoidance; Snyder, Gulley, et al, 2015).…”

Section: Ef/ec Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Although the EATQ-R and BRIEF use different terminology (EC vs. EF), they have overlapping content, asking about many of the same behaviors (e.g., Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Self-Report [BRIEF-SR] “I have trouble changing from one activity to another” and EATQ-R “I find it hard to shift gears when I go from one class to another at school,” BRIEF-SR “I forget what I’m doing in the middle of things” and EATQ-R “I tend to get in the middle of one thing, then go off and do something else,” etc.). Of note however, correlations between these questionnaires have not been reported in the literature, with the exception of one study finding a very strong correlation between parent-report BRIEF and EATQ-R EC factors in children, such that they appeared to measure the same construct (Tiego et al, 2020). Thus, there is some preliminary evidence that questionnaire measures of cognitive control, whether conceptualized as EF or EC, measure the same construct.…”

Section: Ef/ec Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

2020

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Despite overlapping terminology and assumptions that they tap the same constructs, executive function (EF) task performance and EF/effortful control (EC) questionnaires have been reported to be only weakly correlated. It is unclear if this reflects true lack of association or methodological limitations. The current study addresses past methodological limitations using a preregistered latent variable approach in a community youth sample ( N = 291, age 13-22 years). EF task performance was assessed with a well-validated battery inhibition, shifting, and updating tasks. Self-reported EF/EC was assessed using the predominant temperament measure (Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire–Revised [EATQ-R]), and a self-report assessment more closely aligned with EF constructs (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Self-Report [BRIEF-SR]). Bifactor models fit the BRIEF-SR, EATQ-R and EF task measures well. Self-reported EF/EC and EF task factors were only weakly correlated on average in youth, although there were some stronger associations in older youth. These results suggest that task-based measures of EF and self-report measures of EF/EC may be best viewed as complementary, but largely distinct, windows on cognitive control.

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Section: Ef/ec Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Ef/ec Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

2020

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“…At least in adolescents, Zorza et al [83] argued that EF and EC share some elements, but do not completely overlap. In preadolescents, Tiego et al [90] found that behavioral ratings of EF and EC measured the same self-regulation construct. However, based on assessments at age 4 years, Backer-Grondahl et al ([8] p. 2) argued that EF and EC are "not completely synonymous".…”

Section: Key Concepts and Processes In General Self-regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Food” and “non-food” self-regulation in childhood: a review and reciprocal analysis

Russell

2020

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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Background In developmental science, there is an extensive literature on non-food related self-regulation in childhood, where several domains relating to emotions, actions and cognitions have been identified. There is now growing attention to food related self-regulation in childhood, especially difficulties with ASR, and the consequences for weight gain and adiposity. The aim of this narrative review was to conduct a reciprocal analysis of self-regulation in the food and non-food domains in childhood (referred to as appetite self-regulation (ASR) and general self-regulation (GSR) respectively). The focus was on commonalities and differences in key concepts and underpinning processes. Methods Databases and major journals were searched using terms such as self-regulation, appetite self-regulation, or self-regulation of energy intake, together with associated constructs (e.g., Executive Function, Effortful Control, delay-of-gratification). This was followed by backward and forward snowballing. Results and discussion The scholarship on GSR in childhood has had a focus on the role of the cognitively-oriented Executive Function (EF), the temperamentally-based Effortful Control (EC) and the recursive interplay between bottom-up (reactive, emotion driven, approach or avoidance) and top-down (cognitive, conscious decision-making) processes. “Hot” and “cool/cold” EF and self-regulation situations have been distinguished. There were some parallels between GSR and ASR in these areas, but uncertainty about the contribution of EF and EC to ASR in young children. Possible differences between the contribution to ASR-related outcomes of delay-of-gratification in food and non-food tasks were apparent. Unique elements of ASR were identified; associated with psychological, biological and neurological responses to food and bottom-up processes. A diverse number of situations or elements connected to ASR exist: for example, energy balance homeostasis, caloric compensation, hunger regulation, satiation, satiety, energy density of food, eating in the absence of hunger, emotional eating, etc. Conclusions Self-regulation in food and non-food domains are amenable to a reciprocal analysis. We argue that self-regulation of appetite should be added as a domain under the umbrella of self-regulation in childhood along with the other non-food related domains. This could lead to a broader understanding of self-regulation in childhood, and generate novel lines of enquiry.

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“…Among the frontal sub-regions we assessed, the superior frontal gyrus, the orbitofrontal gyrus, the middle frontal gyrus, and the inferior frontal gyrus are involved in the executive attention network. The executive attention network is primarily responsible for error detection and the goal-directed control of attention and behavior associated with novelty and interference (81,82). This network is active when a conflict is present and inhibitory attentional processes are necessary (81,83).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gray Matter Volume in the Developing Frontal Lobe and Its Relationship With Executive Function in Late Childhood and Adolescence: A Community-Based Study

et al. 2021

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Background: During late childhood and adolescence, the frontal lobe undergoes critical developmental changes, affecting a wide range of executive functions significantly. Conversely, abnormality in the maturation of the frontal lobe during this period may result in a limited ability to effectively use various executive functions. However, at present, it is still unclear how the structural development of the frontal lobe is associated with different aspects of executive functions during this developmental period. To fill the gap in evidence, we aimed to elucidate gray matter volume (GMV) in the frontal lobe and its relationship with multiple aspects of executive functions in late childhood and adolescence.Methods: We recruited our participants aged between 6 and 17 years to assess GMV in the frontal lobe and its relationship with different domains of executive functions in late childhood and adolescence. We used the voxel-based morphometry–DARTEL procedure to measure GMVs in multiple frontal sub-regions and Stroop test and Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) to measure executive functions. We then conducted partial correlation analyses and performed multiple comparisons with different age and sex groups.Results: Overall, 123 participants took part in our study. We found that many regional GMVs in the frontal lobe were negatively correlated with ATA scores in participants in late childhood and positively correlated with ATA scores in participants in adolescence. Only a few correlations of the GMVs with Stroop test scores were significant in both age groups. Although most of our results did not survive false discovery rate (FDR) correction (i.e., FDR <0.2), considering their novelty, we discussed our results based on uncorrected p-values. Our findings indicate that the frontal sub-regions that were involved in attentional networks may significantly improve during late childhood and become stabilized later in adolescence. Moreover, our findings with the Stroop test may also present the possibility of the later maturation of higher-order executive functioning skills.Conclusion: Although our findings were based on uncorrected p-values, the novelty of our findings may provide better insights into elucidating the maturation of the frontal lobe and its relationship with the development of attention networks in late childhood and adolescence.

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Common mechanisms of executive attention underlie executive function and effortful control in children

Cited by 50 publications

References 165 publications

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

“Food” and “non-food” self-regulation in childhood: a review and reciprocal analysis

Gray Matter Volume in the Developing Frontal Lobe and Its Relationship With Executive Function in Late Childhood and Adolescence: A Community-Based Study

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