Executive Functioning in Preschool Children: Performance on A-Not-B and Other Delayed Response Format Tasks
Abstract
The A-not-B (AB) task has been hypothesized to measure executive/frontal lobe function; however, the developmental and measurement characteristics of this task have not been investigated. Performances on AB and comparison tasks adapted from developmental and neuroscience literature was examined in 117 preschool children (ages 23-66 months). Age significantly predicted performance on AB, Delayed Alternation, Spatial Reversal, Color Reversal, and Self-Control tasks. A four-factor analytic model best fit task performance data. AB task indices loaded on two factors with measures from the Self-Control and Delayed Alternation tasks, respectively. AB indices did not load with those from the reversal tasks despite similarities in task administration and presumed cognitive demand (working memory). These results indicate that AB is sensitive to individual differences in age-related performance in preschool children and suggest that AB performance is related to both working memory and inhibition processes in this age range.
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Delayed Alternation is a task used to assess working memory in young children and can be administered to toddlers as well as throughout the preschool period.
“Delayed Alternation is a task used to assess working memory in young children, and can be administered to toddlers as well as throughout the preschool period (K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999).”
From Assessing Executive Function in Preschoolers (2012) · cites this paper as K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999
Some children as young as 3 years apply an alternating search strategy at least some of the time, but some older children (e.g., 5 years) struggle with this concept.
“Some children as young as 3-years apply an alternating search strategy at least some of the time, however there are also some older children (e.g.5-years) who struggle with this concept (K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999).”
From Assessing Executive Function in Preschoolers (2012) · cites this paper as K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999
On Delayed Alternation, even very young children are able to shift search strategy between alternate wells.
“On Delayed Alternation (K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999) even very children are able to shift search strategy between alternate wells.”
From Assessing Executive Function in Preschoolers (2012) · cites this paper as K. A. Espy, Kaufmann, McDiarmid, & Glisky, 1999
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- Authors
- Espy, K. A., Kaufmann, P. M., McDiarmid, M. D., & Glisky, M. L.
- Affiliations
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (US)
- Northwestern University (US)
- Venue
- Brain and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1999-11
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 178-199
- ISSN
- 0278-2626 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2009113995
- Cited by
- 226
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 7.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Brain and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- A-not-B task, executive function, preschool children, frontal lobe development, delayed response task, working memory, inhibition, self-control, delayed alternation, age differences, individual differences
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Male, Memory, Regression Analysis, Sex Characteristics
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