The Effects of Cognitive Ability, Cool Executive Function and Hot Executive Function on Young Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Competence

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-260
Author(s):  
Seong Hyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Behavioral Competence

scholarly journals How Well Does Subjective Cognitive Decline Correspond to Objectively Measured Cognitive Decline? Assessment of 10–12 Year Change

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Gustavson ◽  
Amy J. Jak ◽  
Jeremy A. Elman ◽  
Matthew S. Panizzon ◽  
Carol E. Franz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Continuous Measure ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Objective Prior

Background: Although not strongly correlated with current objective cognitive ability, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Most studies focus on SCD in relation to future decline rather than objective prior decline that it purportedly measures. Objective: We evaluated whether self-report of cognitive decline—as a continuous measure—corresponds to objectively-assessed episodic memory and executive function decline across the same period. Methods: 1,170 men completed the Everyday Cognition Questionnaire (ECog) at mean age 68 assessing subjective changes in cognitive ability relative to 10 years prior. A subset had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but MCI was diagnosed without regard to subjective decline. Participants completed up to 3 objective assessments of memory and executive function (M = 56, 62, and 68 years). Informant-reported ECogs were completed for 1,045 individuals. Analyses controlled for depression and anxiety symptoms assessed at mean age 68. Results: Participant-reported ECog scores were modestly associated with objective decline for memory (β= –0.23, 95%CI [–0.37, –0.10]) and executive function (β= –0.19, 95%CI [–0.33, –0.05]) over the same time period. However, these associations were nonsignificant after excluding MCI cases. Results were similar for informant ratings. Participant-rated ECog scores were more strongly associated with concurrent depression and anxiety symptoms, (β= 0.44, 95%CI [0.36, 0.53]). Conclusion: Continuous SCD scores are correlated with prior objective cognitive changes in non-demented individuals, though this association appears driven by individuals with current MCI. However, participants’ current depression and anxiety ratings tend to be strongly associated with their SCD ratings. Thus, what primarily drives SCD ratings remains unclear.

scholarly journals Cognitive impairment from early to middle adulthood in patients with affective and nonaffective psychotic disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Mollon ◽  
Samuel R. Mathias ◽  
Emma E. M. Knowles ◽  
Amanda Rodrigue ◽  
Marinka M. G. Koenis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
African American ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Middle Adulthood

AbstractBackgroundCognitive impairment is a core feature of psychotic disorders, but the profile of impairment across adulthood, particularly in African-American populations, remains unclear.MethodsUsing cross-sectional data from a case–control study of African-American adults with affective (n = 59) and nonaffective (n = 68) psychotic disorders, we examined cognitive functioning between early and middle adulthood (ages 20–60) on measures of general cognitive ability, language, abstract reasoning, processing speed, executive function, verbal memory, and working memory.ResultsBoth affective and nonaffective psychosis patients showed substantial and widespread cognitive impairments. However, comparison of cognitive functioning between controls and psychosis groups throughout early (ages 20–40) and middle (ages 40–60) adulthood also revealed age-associated group differences. During early adulthood, the nonaffective psychosis group showed increasing impairments with age on measures of general cognitive ability and executive function, while the affective psychosis group showed increasing impairment on a measure of language ability. Impairments on other cognitive measures remained mostly stable, although decreasing impairments on measures of processing speed, memory and working memory were also observed.ConclusionsThese findings suggest similarities, but also differences in the profile of cognitive dysfunction in adults with affective and nonaffective psychotic disorders. Both affective and nonaffective patients showed substantial and relatively stable impairments across adulthood. The nonaffective group also showed increasing impairments with age in general and executive functions, and the affective group showed an increasing impairment in verbal functions, possibly suggesting different underlying etiopathogenic mechanisms.

scholarly journals Individual Differences in Attention and Intelligence: A United Cognitive/Psychometric Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Andrew R. A. Conway ◽  
Kristof Kovacs ◽  
Han Hao ◽  
Kevin P. Rosales ◽  
Jean-Paul Snijder
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Executive Attention ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Multiple Domain

Process overlap theory (POT) is a new theoretical framework designed to account for the general factor of intelligence (g). According to POT, g does not reflect a general cognitive ability. Instead, g is the result of multiple domain-general executive attention processes and multiple domain-specific processes that are sampled in an overlapping manner across a battery of intelligence tests. POT explains several benchmark findings on human intelligence. However, the precise nature of the executive attention processes underlying g remains unclear. In the current paper, we discuss challenges associated with building a theory of individual differences in attention and intelligence. We argue that the conflation of psychological theories and statistical models, as well as problematic inferences based on latent variables, impedes research progress and prevents theory building. Two studies designed to illustrate the unique features of POT relative to previous approaches are presented. In Study 1, a simulation is presented to illustrate precisely how POT accounts for the relationship between executive attention processes and g. In Study 2, three datasets from previous studies are reanalyzed (N = 243, N = 234, N = 945) and reveal a discrepancy between the POT simulated model and the unity/diversity model of executive function. We suggest that this discrepancy is largely due to methodological problems in previous studies but also reflects different goals of research on individual differences in attention. The unity/diversity model is designed to facilitate research on executive function and dysfunction associated with cognitive and neural development and disease. POT is uniquely suited to guide and facilitate research on individual differences in cognitive ability and the investigation of executive attention processes underlying g.

scholarly journals PO-182 The influence and mechanism of sports on children's cognitive ability

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Sun ◽  
Jian Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Acute Physical Exercise ◽  
The Brain

Objective Proper participation in physical exercise can not only benefit people physically, but also promote people's psychological benefits. However, people are often only aware of the benefits of physical exercise, such as physical fitness, body shape and function, and ignore the psychological benefits caused by physical exercise. In recent years, more and more people pay attention to the positive psychological benefits of physical exercise on cognition. As the hope of the future of the country, the problem of physical health is widely concerned. To study the effect of physical exercise on children's cognitive function, and to analyze the possible biological mechanism of physical exercise affecting cognitive ability, and to provide a reference for promoting the good development of children's physique. Methods  Through the retrieval of Chinese knowledge network, Wanfang Data knowledge service platform, VVP cube knowledge discovery system, 100 chain database collection sports related research literature, collating literature information, in-depth integration of literature, analysis of the impact and mechanism of physical exercise on children's cognition. Results  (1) Physical exercise can improve the function of the brain, improve the efficiency of the brain, and enhance memory. Animal experiments have shown that physical exercise can enhance short-term memory by improving hippocampal function in rats. (2) Regular physical exercise can improve children's memory and executive function, and promote their cognitive function and academic performance. (3) The effect of physical exercise on specific cognitive function is in turn motor function, motor skills, academic performance, reasoning, reaction time and executive function. Physical exercise promotes cognitive performance by improving the goal of the brain pointing to the maintenance of processing, but physical exercise does not improve or slow down processing inhibition, and physical exercise is not related to processing inhibition. 30 minutes of acute physical exercise plays a significant role in maintaining children's attention. Acute high intensity physical exercise can improve selective attention and short-term memory tasks. In the experiment of the effect of one-off acute physical exercise on cognitive function, moderate intensity of heart rate variables and increased cognitive performance were related. For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, physical exercise can improve their performance of executive function. (4) Physical exercise may affect the possible biological mechanisms of cognitive function: Firstly, exercise can improve the synthesis and secretion of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and dopamine, activate conduction pathways, improve synaptic transmission efficiency, and promote the development of learning and memory function. Secondly, exercise can increase brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDN F), release of nerve growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor --1 (IGF--1) and so on, thus promoting the development of learning and memory function. Again, physical exercise may also improve learning and memory performance by affecting the release of glucocorticoids. Then, physical exercise can enhance the gene expression in the brain area related to learning and memory. Finally, physical exercise may maintain and improve cognitive ability by improving the antioxidant capacity of brain tissue. Conclusions Physical exercise can promote the improvement of children's cognitive ability. The basic cognitive ability of children can be developed through physical exercise. The mechanism of the exercise can be explained by the changes of the brain nerve mechanism, such as increasing the brain capacity and increasing the flow velocity of the brain. The specific biological mechanism still needs to be studied.

Testing a cascade model linking prenatal inflammation to child executive function

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Camerota ◽  
Amanda Wylie ◽  
Jessica Goldblum ◽  
Laurie Wideman ◽  
Carol L Cheatham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽  
Blood Draw ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Child Neurodevelopment ◽  
Prenatal Inflammation

Objective: Inflammation during pregnancy is beginning to be understood as a risk factor predicting poor infant health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The long-term sequelae associated with exposure to prenatal inflammation are less well established. The current study tests the associations between maternal inflammation during pregnancy, markers of infant neurodevelopment (general cognitive ability, negative affect, and sleep quality), and preschool executive function (EF).Study design: We tested these associations in a longitudinal sample of 40 African American mother-infant dyads. Mothers completed a blood draw in the third trimester of pregnancy to measure plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]). When infants were 6 months of age, we assessed general cognitive ability via the Bayley-III, negative affect via the Still-Face Paradigm, and sleep quality via actigraphy monitoring. When children were 4 years of age, we assessed their EF ability using four tasks from the EF Touch battery.Results: Elevated levels of maternal CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α were associated with poorer infant general cognitive ability. Although there were no direct effects of prenatal inflammation on preschool EF, we observed an indirect relationship between IL-6 and preschool EF ability via infant general cognitive ability. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prenatal inflammation may have long-lasting, cascading implications for child neurodevelopment. Implications of these findings for health disparities in women and children of color are discussed.

Executive function and the Wisconsin card sorting test: Relationship with behavioral ratings and cognitive ability

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Riccio ◽  
Josh Hall ◽  
Allison Morgan ◽  
George W. Hynd ◽  
Jose J. Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Behavioral Ratings ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test

scholarly journals The effects of improvisational theatre (improv) vs. group television watching on cognitive ability and mood in people with age-related memory complaints

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin Harris ◽  
Justin Koh ◽  
Andrew C Lai ◽  
Josue Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Television Watching ◽  
Memory Complaints ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Improvisational Theatre ◽  
Average Improvement ◽  
Fluency Test

As people age, there is a high chance their cognitive abilities will decline. The Baby Boomer population will soon reach an age where this is a major problem. As cognitive ability declines, so does quality of life. Everyday, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 and this trend will continue for the next 15 years. With potential millions in need of a solution, cost is a major issue as well. Different forms of stimulation, like music and puzzles, have been shown to improve cognitive ability. Improvisational theatre is a form of stimulation that has not been thoroughly researched in older adults. This is a randomized control pilot study for utility and preliminary efficacy of improvisational theatre on cognitive ability and mood in older adults with age-related memory complaints. 11 elderly participants with age-related memory complaints from an assisted living center were randomized into an improv class (n=5) or a television watching control group (n=6). The improv group participated in an improv class once a week, for 8 weeks, lasting one hour per session. The passive stimulation group watched television or a movie for one hour a week at the same time as the improv class, for 8 weeks. The participants were given the following surveys one week prior to the start of the study and again the day of the last session: Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Verbal Fluency Test, Letter-Number Sequencing Test, Geriatric Depression Scale, Memory Functioning Questionnaire and the Functional Activities Questionnaire. The improv group demonstrated an average improvement in executive function, memory self-appraisal, phonemic cognition, and a decrease in mild cognitive impairment. The verbal fluency test, which measures phonemic cognition showed significant improvement with a p-value of 0.037. In the television watching group, there was an average improvement in executive function, phonemic cognition and some aspects of memory self-appraisal. None of which were significant. No adverse events occurred during the study. This study shows that improv has the potential to improve phonemic cognition because there was a significant increase in the study. Though the other areas that were tested (depression, executive function, working memory, memory self-appraisal or mild cognitive impairment) did not improve significantly, all either improved more than the control group or regressed less than the control group. Since this was the first study of its kind, more researchers should explore the effects of improv on cognition in elderly persons. Subjectively, the improv participants improved greatly in their ability to follow and remain active during the various games.

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