Weighing down Thought: The Effect of Motor Disruption in Executive Function Tasks among Three-Year-Old Children
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| Title: | Weighing down Thought: The Effect of Motor Disruption in Executive Function Tasks among Three-Year-Old Children |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Z. Reagan Pearce, Stephanie E. Miller |
| Source: | Journal of Cognition and Development. 2025 26(3):398-426. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Executive Function, Preschool Children, Motor Reactions, Attention, Habit Formation, Accuracy |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15248372.2024.2444970 |
| ISSN: | 1524-8372 1532-7647 |
| Abstract: | This registered report examines the effect of motor disruption in the conscious control of behavior (i.e. executive function -- EF) of three-year-old children in the Southern United States (N = 114). Specifically, we investigated how disrupting a relevant motor response influenced performance on two EF tasks. Each EF task had an initial phase intended to form a habit, and a switch phase that was the critical measure of EF. Children must inhibit the habit developed at the beginning of the task and reflect consciously on new demands. The multistep multilocation task examined the inhibition of a motor-based habit (response shift), while the Dimensional Change Card Sort examined the inhibition of a cognitive-based habit (attention shift). The motor disruption consisted of administering weighted armbands at two time points during the tasks (i.e. the beginning of the task or during switch trials only) to disrupt reaching behavior. Motor manipulation was found to have a differential effect on EF tasks among three-year-old children. While the armbands improved performance on the response shifting task relative to a no armband control condition, they did not significantly affect performance on the attention shifting task. Contrary to expectations, the armbands did not lead to more errors (habit disruption) during pre-switch trials in either task. These findings highlight the significance of considering both motor and cognitive factors in early childhood EF development. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and implications of incorporating movement in EF development. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Notes: | https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2QDSG |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1495028 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | This registered report examines the effect of motor disruption in the conscious control of behavior (i.e. executive function -- EF) of three-year-old children in the Southern United States (N = 114). Specifically, we investigated how disrupting a relevant motor response influenced performance on two EF tasks. Each EF task had an initial phase intended to form a habit, and a switch phase that was the critical measure of EF. Children must inhibit the habit developed at the beginning of the task and reflect consciously on new demands. The multistep multilocation task examined the inhibition of a motor-based habit (response shift), while the Dimensional Change Card Sort examined the inhibition of a cognitive-based habit (attention shift). The motor disruption consisted of administering weighted armbands at two time points during the tasks (i.e. the beginning of the task or during switch trials only) to disrupt reaching behavior. Motor manipulation was found to have a differential effect on EF tasks among three-year-old children. While the armbands improved performance on the response shifting task relative to a no armband control condition, they did not significantly affect performance on the attention shifting task. Contrary to expectations, the armbands did not lead to more errors (habit disruption) during pre-switch trials in either task. These findings highlight the significance of considering both motor and cognitive factors in early childhood EF development. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and implications of incorporating movement in EF development. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1524-8372 1532-7647 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15248372.2024.2444970 |
