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Language and the development of cognitive control.

Lucy Cragg1, Kate Nation

  • 1School of Psychology, University of NottinghamDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford.

Topics in Cognitive Science
|August 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Inner speech and cognitive flexibility are closely linked in children and adults. While language aids task-switching, its precise developmental role in cognitive control requires further research.

Keywords:
Cognitive controlCognitive flexibilityDevelopmentExecutive functionInner speechTask switching

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Inner speech, or self-talk, is hypothesized to play a role in cognitive processes.
  • Cognitive flexibility allows for efficient task-switching and adaptation.
  • The interplay between inner speech development and cognitive flexibility is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between inner speech and cognitive flexibility in children and young adults.
  • To explore the specific functions of inner speech in task-shifting, rule representation, and memory retrieval.
  • To examine whether inner speech development drives cognitive flexibility development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing findings from cognitive psychology and developmental studies.
  • Analysis of experimental research on inner speech and cognitive control in adults.
  • Examination of developmental data on verbal strategies and age-related cognitive changes.

Main Results:

  • A strong association exists between inner speech and cognitive flexibility across age groups.
  • Language appears to facilitate, but not be essential for, task-set representation and activation in adults.
  • Spontaneous use of verbal strategies increases with age, suggesting enhanced top-down control.

Conclusions:

  • Inner speech and cognitive flexibility are closely interconnected throughout development.
  • Experimental evidence suggests language plays a supportive role in cognitive flexibility for adults.
  • Further experimental research is needed to clarify the precise role of inner speech in the development of cognitive control in childhood.