Relations of cognitive functions associated with the frontal lobes and learning disorders in children

Various cognitive processes associated with the frontal lobes and their influence upon learning and learning disorders in children were investigated. Subjects were 29 7- to 12-yr.-old boys and girls. Analysis of variance suggested that, as a group, the learning-disabled children scored lower on tasks with a high demand for selective attention, ability to inhibit interference, sequential reasoning, and integration and organization of new information--cognitive functions commonly attributed to the frontal lobes. The relationship of these cognitive functions to acquisition of basic academic skills is discussed.