Sustained attention and age predict inhibitory control during early childhood

• Published in: Journal of experimental child psychology 2011-03, Vol.108 (3), p.504-512
• Main Authors: Reck, Sarah G., Hund, Alycia M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention - physiology; Attention Control; Behavior; Child; Child Development; Child Development - physiology; Child, Preschool; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Development; Cognitive Processes; Development; Early childhood; Executive Function - physiology; Executive functioning; Female; Humans; Inhibition; Inhibition (Psychology); Inhibitory control; Internal-External Control; Laboratories; Male; Multimethod assessment; Neuropsychological Tests; Parent Attitudes; Parents; Prediction; Predictor Variables; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sustained attention; Task Performance and Analysis; Young Children
• ISSN: 0022-0965; 1096-0457
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2010.07.010

Executive functioning skills develop rapidly during early childhood. Recent research has focused on specifying this development, particularly predictors of executive functioning skills. Here we focus on sustained attention as a predictor of inhibitory control, one key executive functioning component. Although sustained attention and inhibitory control have been linked in older children and adults, these links have not been well specified during early childhood. The current study examined both parent-rated and laboratory measures of sustained attention as predictors of both parent-rated and laboratory measures of inhibitory control among 3- to 6-year-olds. As expected, children with higher sustained attention abilities exhibited greater inhibitory control. Moreover, inhibitory control increased across age. These findings reveal important details about the development of sustained attention and inhibitory control during early childhood.