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Executive functions, impulsivity, and inhibitory control in adolescents: A structural equation model
Emanuele Fino1, Sergio Melogno2, Paolo Iliceto3
1Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Advances in Cognitive Psychology
|August 27, 2014
Summary
Adolescent impulsivity and inhibitory control predict executive function, supporting self-report measures for understanding cognitive and behavioral regulation. Sensation seeking did not show a significant association.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, characterized by changes in frontal, subcortical-limbic, and striatal activation.
- This developmental stage is associated with increased impulsivity and deficits in inhibitory control.
- Neurodevelopmental models highlight these changes impacting cognitive and behavioral regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-report measures of impulsivity and inhibitory control with executive function in adolescents.
- To employ structural equation modeling to analyze these relationships.
- To assess the validity of self-report measures in examining traits related to cognitive and behavioral regulation.
Main Methods:
- Administered tests to 434 high school students.
- Measured impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Dickman Impulsivity Inventory), reward sensitivity (Behavioral Activation System), and sensation seeking (Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire).
- Assessed inhibitory control (Behavioral Inhibition System) and executive function (Wisconsin Card Sorting Task) using structural equation modeling.
Main Results:
- The final structural equation model demonstrated that impulsivity and inhibitory control significantly predicted executive function.
- Sensation seeking was not found to be a significant predictor of executive function in this model.
- The model exhibited an excellent fit to the data, indicating robust findings.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the hypothesis that inhibitory control and impulsivity are key predictors of executive function in adolescents.
- Findings suggest the utility of self-report measures for examining the relationship between specific impulsivity traits and cognitive/behavioral regulation.
- Results contribute to understanding the neurodevelopmental underpinnings of executive function during adolescence.
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