Dimensions of executive functioning: Evidence from children

TLDR

The study examined executive functioning dimensions in children aged 8–13. The authors assessed 108 children using three CANTAB tasks, two NEPSY tasks, and additional EF tests. Modest correlations (r < .4) among EF measures were found, and factor analyses revealed three interrelated factors—Working Memory, Inhibition, and Shifting—mirroring Miyake et al.; age correlated with most EF measures, supporting the unity‑diversity view of executive functions.

Abstract

This study investigated dimensions of executive functioning in 8‐ to 13‐year‐old children. Three tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), two tasks from the NEPSY battery and some additional executive function (EF) tests were administered to 108 children. In line with earlier work, modest correlations among EF measures were obtained ( r &lt; .4). Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded three interrelated factors, which resembled those obtained by Miyake et al . (2000) and which were—with some reservations—labelled Working Memory (WM), Inhibition and Shifting. Age correlated with performance on most individual EF measures as well as Shifting and WM. The present findings are in agreement with contemporary views as to the simultaneous unity and diversity of EFs.