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Shifting development in mid-childhood: the influence of between-task interference
1Brain and Body Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Developmental Psychology
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Task-switching performance is sensitive to task conflict.
- Children are more affected by task conflict than adults, suggesting age-related improvements in conflict resolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development of conflict resolution in task switching during mid-childhood.
- To examine age-related differences in resolving interference between tasks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the task-switching paradigm with children aged 5-8 and 9-11 years.
- Experiment 1: Assessed switching between color and shape decisions.
- Experiment 2: Manipulated stimulus and response interference to isolate conflict sources.
Main Results:
- Younger children (5-8 years) showed slower task switching and greater interference than older children (9-11 years).
- Results indicate developmental improvements in conflict resolution during mid-childhood task switching.
- Task-switching performance is influenced by task characteristics and prior experience.
Conclusions:
- Conflict resolution in task switching develops significantly during mid-childhood.
- Age-related improvements in cognitive control are evident in children's ability to manage task interference.
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