Cited by 1,501Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skillsDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyCognitive Abilities and Testing

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 63 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Children's Mathematics Ability: Inhibition, Switching, and Working Memory

Bull, Rebecca, Scerif, Gaia·2001·Developmental Neuropsychology

DOI 10.1207/s15326942dn1903_3

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Children's mathematical skills were considered in relation to executive functions. Using multiple measures--including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), dual-task performance, Stroop task, and counting span-it was found that mathematical ability was significantly correlated with all measures of executive functioning, with the exception of dual-task performance. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that each executive function measure predicted unique variance in mathematics ability. These results are discussed in terms of a central executive with diverse functions (Shallice & Burgess, 1996) and with recent evidence from Miyake, et al. (2000) showing the unity and diversity among executive functions. It is proposed that the particular difficulties for children of lower mathematical ability are lack of inhibition and poor working memory, which result in problems with switching and evaluation of new strategies for dealing with a particular task. The practical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed, along with suggestions for task changes and longitudinal studies that would clarify theoretical and developmental issues related to executive functioning.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1207/s15326942dn1903_3

Cites

63 of 63 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions
Stroop, J. R. (1935) · Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0054651 · Cited by 18,622
The Unity and Diversity of Executive Functions and Their Contributions to Complex “Frontal Lobe” Tasks: A Latent Variable Analysis
Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1006/cogp.1999.0734 · Cited by 15,798
Working Memory
Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974) · Psychology of Learning and Motivation · doi:10.1016/s0079-7421(08)60452-1 · Cited by 9,860
Individual differences in working memory and reading
Daneman, M., & Carpenter, P. A. (1980) · Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0022-5371(80)90312-6 · Cited by 6,336
The Psychology of Learning and Motivation: Advances in Research and Theory
(2010) · The Psychology of learning and motivation/The psychology of learning and motivation · doi:10.1016/c2009-0-62209-1 · Cited by 6,035
Half a century of research on the Stroop effect: An integrative review.
MacLeod, C. M. (1991) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.109.2.163 · Cited by 5,500
Attention to Action: Willed and Automatic Control of Behavior
Norman, D. A., & Shallice, T. (1986) · Consciousness and Self-Regulation · doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-0629-1_1 · Cited by 4,455
Specific impairments of planning
Shallice, T. (1982) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.1982.0082 · Cited by 3,741
Working memory, comprehension, and aging: A review and a new view
Hasher, L., & Zacks, R. T. (1988) · Psychology of Learning and Motivation · doi:10.1016/s0079-7421(08)60041-9 · Cited by 3,456
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Manual – Revised and Expanded
Heaton, R. K., Chelune, C., Talley, J., Kay, G., & Curtiss, G. (1981) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,975

Show all 67 references

Research works printed but not linked: 5

Elliott, C. D., Murray, D. J. & Pearson, L. S. (1979). British Ability Scales. Windsor, England: NFER-Nelson.
10.1037//0022-0663.92.2.377 · DOI
10.1037//0033-2909.109.2.163 · DOI · Paper page
10.1037//0096-1523.25.1.39 · DOI
Phillips, L. (1997). Do "frontal tests"measure executive function? Issues of assessment and evidence from fluency tests. In P. M. A. Rabbitt (Ed.), Methodology of Frontal and Executive Functions (pp. 191-214). Hove, England: Psychology Press.

Sorted by citations

Items 701–800 of 1,000

Computational thinking in early childhood is underpinned by sequencing ability and self-regulation: a cross-sectional study
Gao, H., Yang, W., & Jiang, Y. (2023) · Education and Information Technologies · doi:10.1007/s10639-023-11787-5 · Cited by 21
Alpha and Theta Oscillations Are Causally Linked to Interference Inhibition: Evidence from High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation
Zhu, Y., Wu, D., Sun, K., Chen, X., Wang, Y., He, Y., & Xiao, W. (2023) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci13071026 · Cited by 23
Inhibitory ability of children with developmental dyscalculia
Zhang, H., & Wu, H. (2011) · Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology [Medical Sciences] · doi:10.1007/s11596-011-0164-2 · Cited by 19
Effects of extreme prematurity on numerical skills and executive function in kindergarten children: An application of partially ordered classification modeling
Tatsuoka, C. M., McGowan, B. R., Yamada, T., Espy, K. A., Minich, N. M., & Taylor, H. G. (2016) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2016.05.002 · Cited by 19
“…closely related to mathematics achievement in the general population of school-age children (Blair & Razza, 2007; Bull, Espy, & Weibe et al., 2008; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Berg, 2008; Cirino, 2011; Clark, Pritchard, & Woodward, 2010; Clark, Sheffield, Weibe, & Espy, 2013; Espy, Bull, Martin, &…”
Background
Mathematics, anxiety, and the brain
Moustafa, A. A., Tindle, R., Ansari, Z., Doyle, M. J., Hewedi, D. H., & Eissa, A. M. (2017) · Reviews in the Neurosciences · doi:10.1515/revneuro-2016-0065 · Cited by 19
“Along these lines, studies have found that executive functioning is closely related to children’s mathematical skills (Bull and Scerif, 2001).”
Background
Cognitive and Affective Correlates of Chinese Children’s Mathematical Word Problem Solving
Zhang, J., Cheung, S. K., Wu, C., & Meng, Y. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02357 · Cited by 23
“Bull and Scerif (2001) found that after controlling for intelligence and reading ability, in addition to inhibition efficiency, children’s mathematical ability was also related to their perseveration and working memory span.”
Background
Enumeration and Alertness in Developmental Dyscalculia
Gliksman, Y., & Henik, A. (2019) · Journal of Cognition · doi:10.5334/joc.55 · Cited by 19
Genetic overlap between executive functions and BMI in childhood
Wood, A. C., Vainik, U., Engelhardt, L. E., Briley, D. A., Grotzinger, A. D., Church, J. A., Harden, K. P., & Tucker–Drob, E. M. (2019) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqz109 · Cited by 19
Working memory and high-level cognition in children: An analysis of timing and accuracy in complex span tasks
Gordon, R., Smith-Spark, J. H., Newton, E. J., & Henry, L. A. (2019) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2019.104736 · Cited by 19
The roles of executive functioning and oral language skills in young Chinese children's arithmetic competence
Catrina Cuina, L. I. U., Cheung, S. K., Chung, K. K. H., McBride, C. A., Lam, C. B., & Li, X. (2019) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2019.101810 · Cited by 20
Twice Upon a Mind: Preschoolers’ Narrative Processing of Electronic and Printed Stories
Altun, D. (2020) · Early Childhood Education Journal · doi:10.1007/s10643-020-01079-9 · Cited by 26
Number Sense in Low-Performing Kindergarten Children: Effects of a Working Memory and an Early Math Training
Kroesbergen, E. H., Noordende, J. E. V. '., & Kolkman, M. E. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4086-0_16 · Cited by 19
Children in Regular and Special Needs Classes: Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Aspects
Michel, E., & Roebers, C. M. (2008) · Swiss Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1024/1421-0185.67.4.249 · Cited by 19
Relationships Between Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) Cognitive Abilities and Math Achievement Within a Sample of College Students With Learning Disabilities
Proctor, B. E. (2012) · Journal of Learning Disabilities · doi:10.1177/0022219410392049 · Cited by 19
“…that working memory is related to math achievement, albeit the studies operationalize working memory and mathematics in a variety of ways (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Floyd et al., 2003; Gathercole et al., 2004; Geary, 1993; Hale et al., 2008; McGrew & Wendling, in press; Osmon et al., 2006;…”
Background
Erratum to: The effect of inhibitory control on general mathematics achievement and fraction comparison in middle school children
Gomez, D. M., Jiménez, A., Bobadilla, R., Reyes, C., & Dartnell, P. (2017) · ZDM · doi:10.1007/s11858-017-0845-9 · Cited by 19
“Our data adds to the wealth of research linking inhibitory control and general math achievement (e.g. Blair and Razza 2007; Bull and Scerif 2001; Clark et al. 2010; Espy et al. 2004; Gilmore et al. 2013; McClelland et al. 2014; St Clair-Thompson and Gathercole 2006), as stronger inhibition was associated to higher sta…”
BackgroundResult
Editorial: Individual Differences in Arithmetical Development
Dowker, A., Smedt, B. D., & Desoete, A. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02672 · Cited by 20
“There is much evidence for significant relationships between executive functions and arithmetic (Bull and Scerif, 2001; De Smedt et al., 2009; De Weerdt et al., 2013; Bull and Lee, 2014; Peng et al., 2016; Bellon et al., 2019).”
Background
Inhibitory Control and Mathematical Ability in Elementary School Children: A Preregistered Meta-Analysis
Zhu, X., Tang, Y., Lu, J., Song, M., Yang, C., & Zhao, X. (2024) · Educational Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10648-024-09976-w · Cited by 24
“…2013), and their close relationship with children’s mathematical ability has been confirmed by many cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (e.g., Ahmed et al., 2019; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Georgiou et al., 2020; Kahl et al., 2021; Magalhães et al., 2020; Swanson et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2019).”
Influential
The Moderation Effect of Processing Efficiency on the Relationship Between Visual Working Memory and Chinese Character Recognition
Xu, Z., Wang, L., Liu, D., Chen, Y., & Tao, L. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01899 · Cited by 19
“Interestingly, this developmental increase of VWM capacity disappeared when participants were asked to count using unfamiliar terms, which reduced the processing efficiency in the counting task (e.g., Case et al., 1982; Bull and Scerif, 2001).”
Background
Proactive Control Mediates the Relationship Between Working Memory and Math Ability in Early Childhood
Wang, C., Li, B., & Yao, Y. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611429 · Cited by 17
“However, the majority of previous studies have tried to explain individual differences in math ability by investigating the impact of specific cognitive skills such as working memory, response inhibition, and task switching (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Raghubar et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2015).”
Background
Predictors of executive function trajectories in adolescents with and without ADHD: Links with academic outcomes
Shroff, D. M., Dunn, N. C., Green, C. D., Breaux, R., Becker, S. P., & Langberg, J. M. (2023) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579423000743 · Cited by 19
The componential nature of arithmetical cognition: some important questions
Dowker, A. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1188271 · Cited by 24
Teaching Mathematical Word Problem Solving to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Best-Evidence Synthesis
Root, J. R., Ingelin, B. L., & Cox, S. K. (2021) · Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/215416472105600405 · Cited by 18
“E-mail: jrroot@fsu.edu & Scerif, 2001).”
Ergometer cycling enhances executive control in task switching
Barenberg, J., Berse, T., & Dutke, S. (2015) · Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/20445911.2015.1024256 · Cited by 18
“Beyond these basic research interests, an increasing number of studies demonstrated the relevance of executive control processes (including shifting and inhibition in particular) to academic achievement (e.g. Bull & Scerif, 2001; Clark, Pritchard, & Woodward, 2010; Kieffer, Vukovic, & Berry, 2013).”
Background
The neuropsychological function of children with achondroplasia
Wigg, K., Tofts, L., Benson, S. G., & Porter, M. A. (2016) · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A · doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.37779 · Cited by 18
“It has been suggested that executive functioning, includingworking memory, and attention difficulties may partially account for poor mathematical performance in typically developing children [Bull and Scerif, 2001; Mazzocco and Kover, 2007].”
Background
Predicting reading and mathematics from neural activity for feedback learning.
Peters, S., van der Meulen, M., Zanolie, K., & Crone, E. A. (2016) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000234 · Cited by 18
Updating and Not Shifting Predicts Learning Performance in Young and Middle‐Aged Adults
Gijselaers, H. J. M., Meijs, C. J. C., Neroni, J., Kirschner, P. A., & de Groot, R. H. M. (2017) · Mind Brain and Education · doi:10.1111/mbe.12147 · Cited by 19
“…cognition and learning in children and adolescents in traditional education finding executive functioning predictive for school performance or academic achievement, respectively (e.g., Best, Miller, & Naglieri, 2011; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Roebers et al., 2014; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006).”
Background
From map reading to geometric intuitions.
Dillon, M. R., & Spelke, E. S. (2018) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000509 · Cited by 18
Working memory resources in children: stability and relation to subsequent academic skills
Kyttälä, M., Kanerva, K., Munter, I., & Björn, P. M. (2019) · Educational Psychology · doi:10.1080/01443410.2018.1562046 · Cited by 24
Self-Concepts in Reading and Spelling among Mono- and Multilingual Children: Extending the Bilingual Advantage
Festman, J., & Schwieter, J. W. (2019) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs9040039 · Cited by 21
“Bull and Scerif’s [30] study reported a significant relationship between behavioral measures of attention shifting, working memory, and inhibitionand performance-based math measures.”
Background
Relationships between intelligence, executive function and academic achievement in children born very preterm
Dai, D. W. T., Wouldes, T. A., Brown, G., Tottman, A. C., Alsweiler, J. M., Gamble, G. D., & Harding, J. E. (2020) · Early Human Development · doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105122 · Cited by 25
Brain stimulation, mathematical, and numerical training
Looi, C. Y., & Kadosh, R. C. (2016) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.04.009 · Cited by 18
“…important for purposeful, goal-directed behavior that includes inhibitory control, interference control, WM, and cognitive flexibility (Diamond, 2013; Lehto et al., 2003), which are known to predict mathematical outcomes (Bull and Scerif, 2001) and impaired in DD (Rubinsten and Henik, 2009).”
Background
When less is more: Thinner fronto-parietal cortices are associated with better forward digit span performance during early childhood
Botdorf, M., & Riggins, T. (2018) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.10.020 · Cited by 20
“As such, this task serves as an index of working memory and has been shown to be a useful predictor of school performance, including children's mathematical ability (Bull and Sherif, 2001).”
Comparison Between Bipolar Lymphatic Vessels Cautery and Suture Ligature in Prevention of Postrenal Transplant Lymphocele Formation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Simforoosh, N., Tabibi, A., Rad, H. M., & Gholamrezaie, H. R. (2018) · Experimental and Clinical Transplantation · doi:10.6002/ect.2017.0207 · Cited by 18
Numeracy Abilities of Children in Grades 4 to 6 with Mild Intellectual Disability in Singapore
Cheong, J. M. Y., Walker, Z., & Rosenblatt, K. (2016) · International Journal of Disability Development and Education · doi:10.1080/1034912x.2016.1188891 · Cited by 17
“For any child, one of the key components in mathematical achievement is cognitive ability (Bull & Scerif, 2001).”
Background
Poor Executive Functions among Children with Moderate-into-Severe Asthma: Evidence from WCST Performance
Taha, H. Y. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00793 · Cited by 19
“Alongside, previous studies reported that poor EF was found to be correlated with different academic learning disabilities like Dyslexia (Helland and Asbjørnsen, 2000; Reiter et al., 2005) and mathematical learning disorders (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Toll et al., 2011).”
Background
Programa de intervención virtual para mejorar la memoria de trabajo y las habilidades matemáticas básicas en Educación Infantil
Fernández-Abella, R., Peralbo, M., Durán-Bouza, M., Brenlla-Blanco, J.-C., & García-Fernández, M. (2018) · Revista de Psicodidáctica · doi:10.1016/j.psicod.2018.09.002 · Cited by 19
An Eight-Layer Model for Mathematical Cognition
Pappas, M. A., Drigas, A. S., & Polychroni, F. (2018) · International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) · doi:10.3991/ijet.v13i10.8633 · Cited by 19
“The ability of switching between tasks or strategies, as well as the low amount of interference from irrelevant information could be considered as indicators of high mathematical skills [34].”
Background
Arithmetic in developmental cognitive disabilities
Dowker, A. (2020) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103778 · Cited by 21
The effects of light physical activity on learning in adolescents: a systematic review
Chim, H. Q., Gijselaers, H. J. M., de Groot, R. H. M., Gerven, P. W. M. V., Egbrink, M. G. A. O., & Savelberg, H. H. C. M. (2021) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2021.2001837 · Cited by 19
“…performance and academic-performance-related cognitive functions, the latter including but not limited to executive functions (Best et al., 2011; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Diamond, 2013; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006), memory (Hassevoort et al., 2016), processing speed (Rohde & Thompson,…”
Background
Structure of working memory in children from 3 to 8 years old.
Carretti, B., Giofrè, D., Toffalini, E., Cornoldi, C., Pastore, M., & Lanfranchi, S. (2022) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0001385 · Cited by 17
“Understanding the WM structure in young children is of fundamental importance because WM is crucial to various aspects of learning (Alloway, 2009), including reading decoding and comprehension (Christopher et al., 2012) and mathematics (Bull & Scerif, 2001).”
Background
The Roles of Arithmetic Fluency and Executive Functioning in Mathematical Problem-Solving
Kaskens, J., Goei, S. L., Luit, J. V. V., Verhoeven, L., & Segers, E. (2022) · The Elementary school journal · doi:10.1086/721771 · Cited by 15
“…fluency may be due to the increasingly quick and easy retrieval of stored arithmetic facts from long-term memory, making inhibition less needed and facilitating the shifting required for more complex mathematical problem-solving (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Bull et al., 1999; Cragg et al., 2017).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Consistent Performance Differences between Children and Adults Despite Manipulation of Cue-Target Variables
Bauer, J.-R., Martinez, J. E., Roe, M. A., & Church, J. A. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01304 · Cited by 17
“EFs also play a significant role in social development, and have been shown to predict academic achievement (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Espy, 2004; Blair and Razza, 2007) as well as predict long-term health and well-being outcomes in adulthood (Duckworth and Seligman, 2005; Blair and Diamond, 2008).”
Background
The role of inhibitory control in strategy change: The case of linear measurement.
Ren, K., Lin, Y., & Gunderson, E. A. (2019) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000739 · Cited by 17
Training Inhibition and Social Cognition in the Classrooms
Honoré, N., Houssa, M., Volckaert, A., Noël, M., & Nader‐Grosbois, N. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01974 · Cited by 22
“Both EF and ToM seem to predict academic success: they are related to mathematics and literacy (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Gumora and Arsenio, 2002; St Clair-Thompson and Gathercole, 2006; Blair and Razza, 2007; Protopapas et al., 2007; Blair and Diamond, 2008; Monette et al., 2011; Shaul and Schwartz,…”
Background
Improving short-term and working memory: Methods of memory training
Clair‐Thompson, H. S. (2008) · Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) · doi:10.25405/ncl.34210533 · Cited by 17
Sequence Learning Under Uncertainty in Children: Self-Reflection vs. Self-Assertion
Lange‐Küttner, C., Averbeck, B. B., Hirsch, S. V., Wießner, I., & Lamba, N. (2012) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00127 · Cited by 17
“Learning via feedback is often assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting test (WCST; e.g., Rosselli and Ardila, 1993; Riccio et al., 1994; Bull et al., 1999; Bull and Scerif, 2001).”
Method
Working Memory in ADHD: A Comparison of British and South African Children
Alloway, T. P., & Cockcroft, K. (2014) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054711417397 · Cited by 16
Mental Health and Academic Performance in Adolescents: Elucidating the Role of Psychological Well‐Being and Psychological Distress. DADOS Study
Monzonís‐Carda, I., Adelantado‐Renau, M., Beltran‐Valls, M. R., & Moliner‐Urdiales, D. (2025) · Psychology in the Schools · doi:10.1002/pits.23382 · Cited by 25
“Specifically, academic grades of math and language were included in the analyses due to the paramount role that executive functions play on these areas of knowledge (Bull and Scerif 2001).”
Developmental Changes in Visual and Auditory Inhibition in Early Childhood
Guy, J., Rogers, M., & Cornish, K. M. (2012) · Infant and Child Development · doi:10.1002/icd.1756 · Cited by 15
Desempeño académico y funciones ejecutivas en infancia y adolescencia. Una revisión de la literatura
Stelzer, F., & Cervigni, M. A. (2011) · Americanae (AECID Library) · Cited by 16
Investigation into Self-regulation, Engagement in Learning Mathematics and Science and Achievement among Bahrain Secondary School Students
Mutawah, M. A. A., Thomas, R., & Khine, M. S. (2017) · International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education · doi:10.29333/iejme/639 · Cited by 16
“Previous studies have shown that selfregulation skills have a positive association with academic achievement independent of children’s intelligence (Bull & Scerif 2001; Valiente et al. 2008; Zhou et al. 2010; Moffitt et al. 2011).”
Using task performance to inform treatment planning for youth with ADHD: A systematic review
Molitor, S. J., & Langberg, J. M. (2017) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.007 · Cited by 17
“…neuropsychological task performance of general samples of children and adolescents to performance on standardized testing across academic subjects (Latzman, Elkovitch, Young, & Clark, 2010; Waber et al., 2006) and to competence in specific academic skills (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Hooper et al., 2002).”
Background
Neural correlates underlying spatial and verbal working memory in children with different mathematics achievement levels: An event-related potential study
Shen, I., Liu, P., & Chen, C. (2018) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.07.006 · Cited by 17
Excessive visual crowding effects in developmental dyscalculia
Castaldi, E., Turi, M., Gassama, S., Manuela Piazza, A., & Eger, E. (2020) · Journal of Vision · doi:10.1167/jov.20.8.7 · Cited by 16
“…suggested by some authors that the difficulties in calculation observed in DD might be more related to impaired general executive functions such as attention, working/long-term memory and inhibition rather than to conceptual knowledge of number and arithmetic (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Geary, 2004).”
Background
The deficit profile of executive function in Chinese children with different types of reading difficulties
Zou, Z., Zhao, W., & Li, M. (2021) · Reading and Writing · doi:10.1007/s11145-021-10194-x · Cited by 18
Executive function assessment in New Zealand 2-year olds born at risk of neonatal hypoglycemia
Ansell, J. M., Wouldes, T. A., Harding, J. E., & on behalf of the CHYLD Study group (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188158 · Cited by 18
The contribution of cool and hot executive function to academic achievement, learning-related behaviours, and classroom behaviour
O'Toole, S. E., Monks, C. P., Tsermentseli, S. K., & Rix, K. (2018) · Early Child Development and Care · doi:10.1080/03004430.2018.1494595 · Cited by 23
“…(e.g. adding instead of subtracting/reading a word or sounding out the letters) and evaluating which strategy to employ to solve a given problem (e.g. whether a numeracy problem requires addition or subtraction/sounding out the letters or matching the word to a similar word) (Bull & Scerif, 2001).”
Background
A View from the Start: A Review of Inhibitory Control Training in Early Childhood
Baker, E. R., Liu, Q., & Huang, R. (2019) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.88700 · Cited by 19
Preschool Executive Functioning and Child Behavior: Association with Learning Prerequisites?
Ruffini, C., Marzocchi, G. M., & Pecini, C. (2021) · Children · doi:10.3390/children8110964 · Cited by 20
The approximate number system and mathematics achievement: it's complicated. A thorough investigation of different ANS measures and executive functions in mathematics achievement in children
Coolen, I. E. J. I., Riggs, K. J., Bugler, M., & Castronovo, J. (2022) · Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/20445911.2022.2044338 · Cited by 15
“Lee, 2014; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Bull et al., 2008; D’Amico & Guarnera, 2005).”
BackgroundInfluential
The relationship between cognition and mathematics in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review
Kanevski, M., Booth, J. N., Oldridge, J., McDougal, E., Stewart, T. M., McGeown, S. P., & Rhodes, S. (2021) · Child Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/09297049.2021.1985444 · Cited by 17
“…different problem steps, operations (e.g., addition and subtraction), and notations (e.g., verbally presented digits and written Arabic symbols; Robinson & Dubé, 2013; Siegeler & Araya, 2005), although the evidence for its role is mixed (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Clark et al., 2010; Cragg et al., 2017).”
Background
Child L2 Writers
Ibarrola, A. L. (2023) · Trends in language acquisition research · doi:10.1075/tilar.32 · Cited by 15
Delayed gratification predicts behavioral and academic outcomes: Examining the validity of the delay-of-gratification choice paradigm in Singaporean young children
Chen, L., & Yeung, W. J. (2024) · Applied Developmental Science · doi:10.1080/10888691.2024.2307366 · Cited by 16
“Working memory has been a robust predictor of academic achievement across children from Western and Eastern cultures (Ahmed et al., 2019; Blair et al., 2008; Bull & Lee, 2014; Bull & Scerif, 2001; K. Lee et al., 2009, 2012).”
Cognitive anosognosia and behavioral changes in probable Alzheimer's disease patients
Satler, C. E., & Tomaz, C. A. B. (2013) · Dementia & Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1590/s1980-57642013dn70200010 · Cited by 15
Math Skills and Executive Functioning in Preschool: Clinical and Ecological Evaluation // Competencias matemáticas y funcionamiento ejecutivo en preescolar: Evaluación clínica y ecológica
Herrero, M. J. P., Hierro, R. S., Pinto, V., Ruiz, J. M., & Miranda, A. (2014) · Revista de Psicodidáctica · doi:10.1387/revpsicodidact.11086 · Cited by 17
“Las pruebas de Conteo, por ejemplo, poseen mayor capacidad para discriminar entre niños con y sin dificultades matemáticas que las pruebas de dígitos, más tradicionales (Wu et al., 2008).”
Background
Executive Function and Early Mathematical Learning Difficulties
Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. H. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-97148-3_43 · Cited by 20
Daily fluctuations in children’s working memory accuracy and precision: Variability at multiple time scales and links to daily sleep behavior and fluid intelligence
Weber, E. M. G., Neubauer, A., Irmer, A., & Schmiedek, F. (2022) · Cognitive Development · doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101260 · Cited by 15
The Effects of Cognitive Demand upon Relationships between Working Memory and Cognitive Skills
Clair‐Thompson, H. S. (2006) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1080/17470210601025505 · Cited by 17
“It is well established that working memory plays an important role in learning during childhood (e.g., Bull & Scerif, 2001; Gathercole & Pickering, 2000; Gathercole, Pickering, Knight, & Stegmann, 2004; Hitch, Towse, & Hutton, 2001; Jarvis & Gathercole, 2003; St ClairThompson & Gathercole, 2006).”
Background
Primed to be inflexible: the influence of set size on cognitive flexibility during childhood
FitzGibbon, L., Cragg, L., & Carroll, D. J. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00101 · Cited by 15
“There are many situations when cognitive flexibility is necessary for academic performance (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Blair and Razza, 2007; Bull et al., 2008).”
Background
Cognitive Predictors of Mathematical Abilities and Disabilities
Desoete, A. (2014) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199642342.013.033 · Cited by 15
Sensitivity of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (64-Card Version) versus the Tower of London (Drexel Version) for detecting executive dysfunction in children with epilepsy
MacAllister, W. S., Maiman, M., Marsh, M., Whitman, L. A., Vasserman, M., Cohen, R. J., & Salinas, C. M. (2017) · Child Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/09297049.2016.1265101 · Cited by 15
“Considering that deficits in executive functions have a significant impact on academic skills such as reading comprehension and mathematics (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Cantin, Gnaedinger, Gallaway, Hesson-McInnis, & Hund, 2016; Sesma, Mahone, Levine, Eason, & Cutting, 2009), identification of such…”
Background
Working Memory as Separable Subsystems: a Study with Portuguese Primary School Children
Campos, I. S., Almeida, L. S., Ferreira, A. I., & Martinez, L. F. (2013) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1017/sjp.2013.6 · Cited by 15
Academic Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Specific Learning Disorders
Micheletti, S., Galli, J., Vezzoli, M., Scaglioni, V., Agostini, S., Calza, S., Merabet, L. B., & Fazzi, E. (2024) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1111/dmcn.15808 · Cited by 14
“12 It is particularly relevant for academic performance because it is necessary to make sense of written or spoken language, to perform mathematical calculations in the head, for numerical cognition, 44,45,71 and with early numeracy.”
BackgroundInfluential
Executive function, language dominance and literacy skills in Spanish-speaking language-minority children: A longitudinal study
Alfonso, S. V., & Lonigan, C. J. (2021) · Early Childhood Research Quarterly · doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.06.005 · Cited by 19
Does antenatal micronutrient supplementation improve children’s cognitive function? Evidence from the follow-up of a double-blind randomised controlled trial in Nepal
Dulal, S., Liégeois, F., Osrin, D., Kuczynski, A., Manandhar, D., Shrestha, B., Sen, A., Saville, N., Devakumar, D., & Prost, A. (2018) · BMJ Global Health · doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000527 · Cited by 11
“37 38 In each condition, the children were asked to name the quantity of items in rows of one to seven identical items.”
Background
The role of BMI on cognition following acute physical activity in preadolescent children
Raine, L. B., Kao, S., Drollette, E. S., Pontifex, M. B., Pindus, D. M., Hunt, J., Kramer, A. F., & Hillman, C. H. (2020) · Trends in Neuroscience and Education · doi:10.1016/j.tine.2020.100143 · Cited by 19
Initial performance modulates the effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on inhibitory control
Wu, D., Zhou, Y., Xu, P., Liu, N., Sun, K., & Xiao, W. (2021) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147722 · Cited by 15
A predictive model for mathematical performance of blind and seeing students
Pezeshki, P., Alamolhodaei, H., & Radmehr, F. (2011) · Cited by 14
Estructura de las Funciones Ejecutivas en la Edad Preescolar
Osornio, M. G. G., & Ostrosky, F. (2012) · Acta de Investigación Psicológica · doi:10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2012.1.187 · Cited by 14
Latent dimensions of executive functions in early childhood.
Decker, S. L., Ezrine, G. A., & Ferraracci, J. (2016) · Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology · doi:10.1007/s40817-016-0013-0 · Cited by 18
“…2011), emotional and social competence (Kochanska et al. 1996), behavioral control (Eisenberg et al. 1997), social cognition (Perner and Lang 1999), school adjustment (Blair 2002; Bodrova and Leong 2006), and academic achievement (Bull and Scerif 2001; Duncan et al. 2007; McClelland et al. 2007).”
Background
Effect of Relaxation Training on Working Memory Capacity and Academic Achievement in Adolescents
Kargar, F. R., Ghoreishi, M. K., Bita, A., & Noohi, S. (2013) · Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.318 · Cited by 18
Working Memory Interventions With Children: Classrooms or Computers?
Colmar, S., & Double, K. S. (2017) · Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools · doi:10.1017/jgc.2017.11 · Cited by 13
“Other researchers have shown a positive relationship between working memory capacity and the development of reading and literacy (Normand & Tan-nock, 2014; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006) and mathematics (Bull, Espy, & Wiebe, 2008; Bull & Scerif, 2001).”
Background
Longitudinal development of subtraction performance in elementary school
Artemenko, C., Pixner, S., Moeller, K., & Nuerk, H. (2017) · British Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjdp.12215 · Cited by 16
“…highlighting the critical contribution of domain-general processes, such as executive functions, to arithmetic performance (e.g., Bull & Lee, 2014; Bull & Scerif, 2001; Clark, Pritchard, & Woodward, 2010; Cragg & Gilmore, 2014; Gathercole, Pickering, Knight, & Stegmann, 2004; Nemati et al., 2017).”
Age-related changes in children’s strategies for solving two-digit addition problems
Lemaire, P., & Brun, F. (2018) · Journal of Numerical Cognition · doi:10.5964/jnc.v3i3.117 · Cited by 14
“It is possible that in addition to basic arithmetic fluency, increased processing resources helped older children to use more strategies (e.g., Bull & Scerif, 2001; Barrouillet & Lépine, 2005; Geary, Brown, & Samaranayake, 1991; Lemaire & Lecacheur, 2011).”
Background
The relationship between spatial working memory precision and attention and inhibitory control in young children
Beattie, H. L., Schutte, A. R., & Cortesa, C. S. (2018) · Cognitive development · doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.02.002 · Cited by 13
Assessing the Effectiveness of Differentiated Instructional Approaches for Teaching Math to Preschoolers with Different Levels of Executive Functions
Veraksa, А., Сергеевна, А. М., Bukhalenkova, D., Veraksa, N. E., & Liutsko, L. (2020) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci10070181 · Cited by 14
The relationship among self-regulation, sociodramatic play, and preschoolers' readiness for kindergarten
Matthews, S. B. (2008) · doi:10.17760/d10017045 · Cited by 14
A multidimensional evaluation of the benefits of an ecologically realistic training based on pretend play for preschoolers’ cognitive control and self-regulation: From behavior to the underlying theta neuro-oscillatory activity
Adam, N., Blaye, A., Gulbinaite, R., Chabé‐Ferret, S., & Farrer, C. (2022) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2021.105348 · Cited by 22
Direct and Indirect Effects of Inhibition and Flexibility to Reading Comprehension, Reading Fluency, and Decoding in Spanish
Escobar, J., & Díaz, R. R. (2022) · Reading Psychology · doi:10.1080/02702711.2022.2141395 · Cited by 17
“Evidence shows that EFs are associated with academic performance and predict the development of reading and mathematical skills (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Cragg, Keeble, Richardson, Roome, & Gilmore, 2017; Monette, Bigras, & Guay, 2011; Simanowski & Krajewski, 2019; Van der Ven, Kroesbergen, Boom, &…”
Background
Is higher adherence to the mediterranean diet associated with greater academic performance in children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis
López‐Gil, J. F., Victoria‐Montesinos, D., & García‐Hermoso, A. (2024) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2024.05.045 · Cited by 18
Three functional aspects of working memory as strong predictors of early school achievements: The review and illustrative evidence
Sędek, G., Krejtz, I., Rydzewska, K., Kaczan, R., & Rycielski, P. (2016) · Polish Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1515/ppb-2016-0011 · Cited by 13
“…and reading (e.g., Baddeley, 1986; Daneman & Carpenter, 1980; Perfetti, 1985), speech production (e.g., Peña & Tirre, 1992; Shute & Kyllonen, 1990; Tirre, 1991; Woltz, 1988), arithmetic word problems (e.g., Swanson & Beebe-Frankenberger, 2004), and computational skills (e.g., Bull & Scerif, 2001).”
Cognitive games for children's Executive Functions Training with or without learning difficulties
Rachanioti, E., Bratitsis, T., & Alevriadou, A. (2018) · International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion (DSAI) · doi:10.1145/3218585.3218665 · Cited by 18
“Furthermore, shifting, working memory and inhibition account for unique variance in mathematics scores [8].”
Background
Executive Functions and Information Systems Learning
Sullivan, Y. W., Davis, F. D., & Koh, C. E. (2022) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2022/15979 · Cited by 14
Relating mathematical abilities to numerical skills and executive functions in informal and formal schooling
Wongupparaj, P., & Kadosh, R. C. (2022) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00740-9 · Cited by 13
“Several studies demonstrated the significant connection among specific executive functioning, that is, working memory, inhibition and shifting abilities, and mathematical ability in children [35, 42].”
BackgroundResult
Teachers' perceptions of classroom behaviour and working memory
Alloway, T. P., Doherty‐Sneddon, G., & Forbes, L. (2012) · Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) · doi:10.5897/err10.223 · Cited by 13
“…working memory performance are closely related to a range of academic skills such as reading (Swanson and BeebeFrankenberger, 2004), spelling (Alloway et al., 2005), comprehension (Daneman and Merikle, 1996), and mathematics (Bull and Scerif, 2001; Geary et al., 1999; Swanson and Sachse-Lee, 2001).”
Background
Evocative gene–parenting correlations and academic performance at first grade: An exploratory study
Propper, C. B., Shanahan, M. J., Russo, R., & Mills-Koonce, R. (2012) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579412000697 · Cited by 13
Program of neuropsychological stimulation of cognition in students: Emphasis on executive functions - development and evidence of content validity
Cardoso, C. D. O., Dias, N. M., Seabra, A. G., & Fonseca, R. P. (2017) · Dementia & Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1590/1980-57642016dn11-010013 · Cited by 15
A Growth Mixture Modeling Study of Learning Trajectories in an Extended Computerized Working Memory Training Programme Developed for Young Children Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Orylska, A., Hadwin, J. A., Kroemeke, A., & Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S. (2019) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2019.00012 · Cited by 16
“…and adolescents is positively associated with educational achievement in core subjects, including text comprehension and reading (e.g., Daneman and Carpenter, 1980; Perfetti, 1985; Baddeley, 1986) and mathematical problem solving (e.g., Bull and Scerif, 2001; Swanson and BeebeFrankenberger, 2004).”
Background
Children With Mathematical Learning Difficulties Are Sluggish in Disengaging Attention
Zhang, X., Fu, W., Xue, L., Zhao, J., & Wang, Z. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00932 · Cited by 13
A Novel Approach to Measure Executive Functions in Students: An Evaluation of Two Child-Friendly Apps
Berg, V., Rogers, S., McMahon, M., Garrett, M. J., & Manley, D. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01702 · Cited by 17
“For example, inhibition emerges and undergoes rapid growth in early childhood, particularly between the ages of three to six (Band et al., 2000; Carver et al., 2001; Garon et al., 2008; Wiebe et al., 2012), and continues to mature into early adulthood.”
Background

Authors: Bull, R., & Scerif, G.
Affiliations: University of Aberdeen (GB)
ORCID: Bull, Rebecca
Scerif, Gaia
Venue: Developmental Neuropsychology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2001-06
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Pages: 273-293
ISSN: 1532-6942 (ISSN-L)
8756-5641
DOI: 10.1207/s15326942dn1903_3
OpenAlex: W2142887785
Semantic Scholar: 813c3c045849f82cac2db2f26cee0ca306349f28
Cited by: 1,501
References: 67
Citations by year: 2026: 32 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 78 · 2019: 96 · 2018: 112 · 2017: 101 · 2016: 81 · 2015: 76 · 2014: 103 · 2013: 97 · 2012: 80
FWCI: 13.01
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Developmental Neuropsychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Nuffield Foundation
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords: executive function, mathematical ability, children, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, central executive, dual-task performance, Stroop task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, strategy evaluation
MeSH terms: Child, Cognition, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Male, Mathematics, Memory

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Children's Mathematics Ability: Inhibition, Switching, and Working Memory

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks