Development of Executive Functions in Pre-schoolers

The aim of this study was to investigate the development and developmental trajectories of the three most frequently postulated executive function (EF) components. In addition, we explored the developmental relation between early expressive and receptive language skills and EF longitudinally. Expressive and receptive language tasks and age-appropriate working memory, inhibition, and shifting tasks were conducted with 70 pre-schoolers (36 girls and 34 boys) aged between 36 and 65 months. Measures were taken two times at 6 month intervals within a longitudinal design. The findings of the present study revealed that different aspects of language had predictive relations with shifting and working memory components of EF 6 months later. The findings also showed how components of EF develop during the preschool years both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Okul Öncesi Dönemde Yönetici İşlevler Gelişimi

Bu çalışmanın amacı, yönetici işlevlerin üç bileşeninin gelişimini ve gelişim örüntülerini ve bu bileşenlerin dil becerisinin alıcı ve ifade edici yönleri ile olan ilişkisini boylamasına araştırmaktır. Alıcı ve ifade edici dil görevleri ve yaşa uygun çalışma belleği, ketleme ve kurulumu değiştirme (shifting) görevleri 36-65 ay arasında değişen 70 okul öncesi çocuğa (36 kız ve 34 erkek) uygulanmıştır. Boylamsal bir desende 6 aylık aralıklarla iki kez ölçüm alınmıştır. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, dilin farklı yönlerinin 6 ay sonraki kaydırma ve çalışma belleği bileşenleriyle yordayıcı ilişkilere sahip olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca bulgular yönetici işlevlerin farklı bileşenlerinin okul öncesi yıllarda hem kesitsel hem de boylamsal olarak nasıl geliştiğini göstermiştir.

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