Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Psychology
First Advisor
Stephanie E. Miller
Second Advisor
Mervin Matthew
Third Advisor
Alicia Stapp
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the effect of movement on the conscious control of behavior (i.e., executive function or EF) in three-year-old children. Two questions were addressed regarding the role of movement in preschoolers' EF. First, the study investigated how altering movement within EF tasks influenced children's EF performance by manipulating relevant motor patterns (i.e., arm movement within EF searching and sorting tasks) in 3-year-olds. Children wore slightly weighted armbands while engaging in two distinct EF tasks, one focusing on motor control (i.e., reaching for an object) and the other on cognitive control (i.e., sorting objects based on rules). Second, the study examined whether child and parental approaches toward movement as a problem-solving tool predicted children's EF performance. Findings indicated that the armbands improved performance on the response shifting task relative to a no armband control condition but did not significantly affect performance on the attention shifting task. Contrary to expectations, the armbands did not lead to more errors (habit disruption) during pre-switch trials in either task. Additionally, parental attitudes and practices related to movement-based problem-solving were related to children's performance on EF tasks that require more cognitive control. These findings highlight the importance of considering both motor and cognitive factors in understanding EF development in early childhood.
Recommended Citation
Pearce, Zubie Reagan, "Moving Minds: Examining the potential effects of movement on executive function among 3-year-olds" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2858.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2858