Foundational executive functions in Adolescence
behavioural evidence
, How can we summarise adolescent cognitive development?
1. Not stage-like (i.e. not Piagetian)
Lower level abilities do not stop developing before higher level abilities emerge – Don’t master easy
ones before you move to the hard ones.
Skill acquisition is not all-or-none: abilities may be shown by individuals in some contexts but not
others, at some ages and not others, etc.
2. Not unitary
Development involves a diverse set of skills developing along partially (but not wholly) distinct time
courses. Not wholly distinct because they all rely on different parts of the prefrontal cortex
Linked to development of partially discrete brain components especially those which rely on
prefrontal cortex
“diverse set of skills”
Executive functions is an ability that falls under the broader meta ability of higher cognitive
functions. EF can also be split into foundational EF and complex EF’s.
Foundational EF’s
• Working memory
• Inhibitory control
• Shifting.
Lower levels cognitive processes
• Processing speed
• STM
• Sensory perception
“Developing along partially* distinct time courses”
Romine & Reynolds (2005)
Meta analysis
Different developmental trajectories for different cognitive tasks
- Steepest increase in performance prior to age 8
- More moderate increase between ages of 9 and 12
behavioural evidence
, How can we summarise adolescent cognitive development?
1. Not stage-like (i.e. not Piagetian)
Lower level abilities do not stop developing before higher level abilities emerge – Don’t master easy
ones before you move to the hard ones.
Skill acquisition is not all-or-none: abilities may be shown by individuals in some contexts but not
others, at some ages and not others, etc.
2. Not unitary
Development involves a diverse set of skills developing along partially (but not wholly) distinct time
courses. Not wholly distinct because they all rely on different parts of the prefrontal cortex
Linked to development of partially discrete brain components especially those which rely on
prefrontal cortex
“diverse set of skills”
Executive functions is an ability that falls under the broader meta ability of higher cognitive
functions. EF can also be split into foundational EF and complex EF’s.
Foundational EF’s
• Working memory
• Inhibitory control
• Shifting.
Lower levels cognitive processes
• Processing speed
• STM
• Sensory perception
“Developing along partially* distinct time courses”
Romine & Reynolds (2005)
Meta analysis
Different developmental trajectories for different cognitive tasks
- Steepest increase in performance prior to age 8
- More moderate increase between ages of 9 and 12
