1-086 - Neural and socio-emotional moderation paths for supporting children's executive functions

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Executive functions are considered key for learning and well-being, yet little is known on the mechanisms affecting the integrity of these functions. This symposium aims to delineate advances in understanding neurological and social factors that affect the development of a number of key aspects of executive functions in young children: selective attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and shifting abilities. First, the symposium points to the neonatal neural networks that drive executive functions in early life. Second, models are presented for supporting executive function in cohorts with low socio-emotional backgrounds, who are at risk for deficiencies in these abilities.
Employing a five year long longitudinal study, the first paper presents the role of prenatal maturing brainstem functions and social referencing on the development of executive attention. The second paper investigated the development of selective attention from two to five years and delineated how the quality of early childhood education and care impacts on growth in selective attention in low and high SES children. The third paper which explored a whole primary school cohort from very low SES community (ages 6-13 years), points to the importance of perceived quality of the social interaction with the experimenters in the school environment for exerting better inhibitory control and more adaptive mental-shifting.
The symposium uncovers and discusses neural and socio-emotional moderation paths for supporting executive functions in young children. Integrating neuroscience and early social development may offer promise for supporting self-regulation in children who are challenged by neural difference as well as by socio-economical adversity.

Sub Unit

• Cognitive Processes

Chair

• Ronny Geva, Bar Ilan University

Discussant

• Ronny Geva, Bar Ilan University

Individual Presentations

• The development of executive functions: Role of early maturing social-neural pathways - Presenting Author: Ronny Geva, Bar Ilan University; Sarit Yaakoby-Rotem, Bar Ilan University; Jessica Yarmolovsky, Bar Ilan University

• The development of selective attention: Role of Socio-economic status and care - Presenting Author: Hanna Mulder, Utrecht University

• The development of executive functions: Roles of perceived rapport in children of low socio-economic status - Presenting Author: Maor Gidron, Bar Ilan University; Jessica Yarmolovsky, Bar Ilan University; Ronny Geva, Bar Ilan University