Development of cool and hot executive function deficit in children born very low birth weight with normal early
Shi Wen Lee1, Nai-Wen Guo2, Chao-Ching Huang3
1Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Insights
Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm children show delayed executive functions (EFs) at age six. However, their cool and hot EFs develop to catch up with peers by ages eight and ten, highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm children born with very low birth weight (VLBW) are at risk for executive function (EF) deficits.
- Longitudinal data on cool and hot EF development in VLBW preterm children with normal early development is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate the development of cool and hot executive functions (EFs) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm children.
- To compare the EF development trajectory between VLBW preterm children and term-born controls.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 40 VLBW preterm children at ages 6, 8, and 10.
- Comparison with 50 term-born controls at each age.
- Assessment of cool EFs (e.g., working memory, attention, planning) and hot EFs (e.g., Theory of Mind, delay of gratification).
Main Results:
- At age six, VLBW preterm children demonstrated significantly lower scores in planning, inhibition control, Theory of Mind, and delay of gratification compared to controls.
- By ages eight and ten, average cool and hot EF performance in the VLBW preterm group did not significantly differ from the control group.
Conclusions:
- VLBW preterm children with normal early development experience temporary delays in cool and hot EFs at age six.
- While average EF performance catches up by age ten, individual differences persist.
- Early intervention for VLBW preterm children with delayed EFs is recommended, alongside developing more comprehensive developmental indicators.
Background:
Studies showed preterm children born with very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) are at risk for poorer executive functions (EFs). However, very little research has been reported longitudinally on the development of both cool and hot EFs deficits in preschool to school-age VLBW preterm children with normal early development.
Aims:
Present study aimed to investigate the development of cool and hot EFs in VLWB preterm children longitudinally.
Methods:
Forty preterm children born VLBW were followed up at ages 6, 8, and 10. Fifty term-born controls were recruited at each age stage. Cool EFs was assessed using backward digit span subtest of WISC-IV, Knox's Cube Test, Comprehensive Non-verbal Attention Test Battery (CNAT), Tower of London (ToL), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and hot EFs was assessed using Theory of Mind (ToM) and Delay of Gratification (GIFT) tasks.
Results:
The six-year-old VLBW preterm group showed significantly lower scores of planning in ToL, inhibition control in CNAT, and in both ToM and GIFT tasks. There is no significant difference in average cool and hot EFs between the eight and ten-year-old preterm group and the control group.
Conclusions:
At six, VLBW preterm infants with normal early development have delayed cool and hot EFs development. Although the average performance of EFs can reach the level of the control group with age increasing to eight and ten years, there are still individual differences. It is recommended that more complete development indicators be established in the future, and early intervention should be made for VLBW premature children with delayed EFs.
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