This study examined how physical activity and history of sports participation affect subjective and objective executive functioning in university students. A total of 215 university students aged 18-25 (81% female) completed a virtual assessment of executive function. The correlates were age, sex, physical activity, and history of sports…

The primary motor cortex (M1) is crucial for motor skill learning. We examined its role in interleaved practice, which enhances retention (vs. repetitive practice) through M1-dependent consolidation. We hypothesized that cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) to M1 would disrupt retention. We found that ctDCS reduced retention…

In this study, we focus on Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) to explore the associations between executive function deficits and repetitive behaviors. Thirty individuals with RTS completed direct assessments of inhibition, working memory and set-shifting. Informants completed repetitive behavior and executive function questionnaires. Repetitive…

Explicit instruction is a teaching strategy that aims to avoid cognitive overload experienced by students which aims to improve academic performance. Previous research has mentioned working memory as a cognitive capacity that processes information and cognitive control and supports the success of explicit teaching on student academic performance.…

Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and senses. Based on Embodied Cognition theory, physical activities are an important manifestation of cognitive functions. As a result, they can be employed to both assess and train cognitive skills. In order to assess various cognitive measures,…

Background: Early childhood is a critical period of language development. Yet less is known about how language growth relates to the development of phoneme awareness and cognitive flexibility during this period. Aims: To examine the longitudinal associations between growth in phonological awareness and cognitive flexibility from 4 to 5 years in…

Youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often exhibit impairments in mathematics, but long-term math development into adulthood, particularly in females, is underexplored. We characterized trajectories of math achievement in girls with ADHD and an age- and ethnicity-matched comparison sample from childhood through early…

Metacognitive reading strategies represent a goal-driven system that plays a role in critical thinking verbal tasks in students. Research reveals that greater attentional focus and use of executive functions is associated with lower trait anxiety, and better verbal reasoning. However, high verbal reasoning is also positively associated with trait…

This study aimed to explore the effect of a mindfulness-based curriculum designed especially for preschoolers on facets of executive functions. Fifty-one preschoolers were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness and kindness curriculum (MC) or an active control dialogic reading program (DR). A battery of behavioral and neurophysiological tests…

The study explored the cognitive processes of victims as depicted in their drawings of school bullying experiences. Sixty victims of school bullying in the age range of 11-12 years identified by the Illinois Victimization scale completed a drawing task that required them to depict their cognitive processes underlying victimization. A…

The results of Cognitive Intervention (CI) programs vary considerably; thus, it is helpful to assess the characteristics that enhance the effectiveness of these programs. Our objectives were to analyze the effectiveness of a multicomponent CI program called UMAM on cognitive performance, subjective memory, daily forgetfulness, and mood of…

Enhancing executive function in children and adolescents can have significant positive impact on their current and future daily lives. Upregulation of executive function associated with motor skill acquisition suggests that motor learning scenarios provide valuable developmental opportunities to optimize executive function. The present systematic…

Physical activity (PA) is well-documented to benefit students' executive function (EF) and academic performance. However, prevailing research has predominantly focused on domain-general EF (across academic domains) while overlooking domain-specific EF (within specific subjects). To address this gap, this opinion article proposes an integrative…

Technology-rich learning environments in which students use digital devices such as laptops and tablets may over-task students' executive functions (EF). However, limited research has examined how well teachers understand these demands or recognize EF-related challenges in digital learning contexts. This study investigated U.S. K-12 teachers'…

Brain connectivity of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is heterogenous, as are the behavioral manifestations. The current study investigated brain-behavior relationships in the context of social skills and executive function profiles with data from the Autism Brain Imaging Database Exchange II. We calculated connectivity measures…