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The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
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Contextual Transparency Supports Cognitive Control by Reducing Prefrontal Activation and Enhancing Cue Prioritization

Cachal Neuburger1, Sara Cruz2, Nicolas Chevalier3

  • 1Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

Developmental Science
|April 20, 2026
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Summary

Clearer task cues improve children's cognitive control by reducing brain activity and enhancing focus. This study shows transparent cues aid goal-directed behavior in 5- to 10-year-olds.

Keywords:
childrencognitive controlcontextual cue transparencycue prioritizationfunctional near‐infrared spectoscropy (fNIRS)prefrontal cortex

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Cognitive psychology

Background:

  • Children's cognitive control, or goal-directed regulation, improves with age.
  • This improvement is linked to better processing of contextual cues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate how contextual cue transparency benefits children's cognitive control.
  • Examine the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this benefit.

Main Methods:

  • Five- to 10-year-old children performed a cued task-switching task.
  • Used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and eye-tracking.
  • Manipulated cue transparency (transparent vs. arbitrary).

Main Results:

  • Transparent cues improved behavioral performance compared to arbitrary cues.
  • Transparent cues led to reduced lateral prefrontal activation.
  • Children showed more efficient gaze patterns with transparent cues.

Conclusions:

  • Greater cue transparency reduces neurocognitive resources needed for goal identification.
  • Transparent cues facilitate cue prioritization but do not enhance attentional shifting.
  • Benefits are linked to reduced prefrontal cortex engagement and improved visual processing of cues.