Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

An fNIRS Study of Applicability of The Unity-Diversity Model of Executive Functions in Preschoolers

Version 1 : Received: 28 October 2022 / Approved: 28 October 2022 / Online: 28 October 2022 (07:02:39 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Xie, S.; Gong, C.; Lu, J.; Zhang, H.; Wu, D.; Chi, X.; Li, H.; Chang, C. An fNIRS Study of Applicability of the Unity–Diversity Model of Executive Functions in Preschoolers. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 1722. Xie, S.; Gong, C.; Lu, J.; Zhang, H.; Wu, D.; Chi, X.; Li, H.; Chang, C. An fNIRS Study of Applicability of the Unity–Diversity Model of Executive Functions in Preschoolers. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 1722.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship among the three domains of executive function (EF; cognitive shifting, inhibitory control, and working memory) to test the applicability of the unity-diversity model in preschoolers using both behavioral and fNIRS approaches. Altogether 58 Chinese preschoolers (34 boys, 24 girls, Mage = 5.86 years, SD = 0.53, Age range = 4.83-6.67 years) were administered the Dimensional Card Change Sort (DCCS), go/no-go, and missing scan task. Their brain activations in the prefrontal cortex during the tasks were examined using fNIRS. First, the behavioral results indicated that the missing scan task scores (working memory) correlated with the DCCS (cognitive shifting) and go/no-go tasks (inhibitory control). But the latter two did not correlate with each other. Second, the fNIRS results demonstrated that the prefrontal activations during the working memory task correlated with those in the same regions during the cognitive shifting and inhibitory control tasks. Still, the latter two did not correlate. The behavioral and neuroimaging evidence jointly indicates that the unity-diversity model of EF does apply to Chinese preschoolers.

Keywords

executive function; early childhood; fNIRS; working memory; cognitive shifting; inhibitory control

Subject

Social Sciences, Behavior Sciences

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