Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
19:15
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Executive Functions Predict Academic Difficulties in Preterm with Protective Factors and Normal IQ
Olivier Cadeau1, Jean-Baptiste Muller1,2, Amanda Guerra1
1University of Angers, Nantes Université, LPPL, SFR CONFLUENCES, Angers, France.
Developmental Neuropsychology
|May 19, 2026
Summary
Children born preterm with executive function deficits face higher risks of academic difficulties. Planning skills were the most significant predictor of academic challenges in this group.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Children born preterm are at risk for developmental challenges.
- Executive functions (EFs) are crucial for academic success.
- Understanding the specific impact of EFs on preterm children's academics is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between executive functions and academic achievement in preterm children.
- To identify specific executive functions that predict academic difficulties in this population.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental design with 56 preterm children (28-34 weeks' gestation, ages 7-9).
- Assessment of executive functions (inhibition, working memory, flexibility, planning) using performance-based tests and proxy reports.
- Evaluation of academic achievement in reading, spelling, and mathematics.
Main Results:
- Children with executive function deficits showed a significantly higher risk of academic difficulties (OR 7.87).
- Planning ability was identified as the most critical predictor of academic achievement.
- Deficits in other executive functions like inhibition, working memory, and flexibility also contributed to academic challenges.
Conclusions:
- Executive function deficits pose a substantial risk for academic difficulties in preterm children.
- Systematic assessment of both academic achievement and executive functions is recommended for preterm follow-up care.
- Early identification and intervention for executive function challenges can support academic success in this vulnerable population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
01:30Information Processing Approach
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 also...
01:29Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.