How do symbols affect 3- to 4-year-olds' executive function? Evidence from a reverse-contingency task.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Apperly IA;Apperly IA; Carroll DJ
  • Source:
    Developmental science [Dev Sci] 2009 Nov; Vol. 12 (6), pp. 1070-82.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9814574 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1467-7687 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 1363755X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Dev Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Oxford, UK ; Malden, MA, USA : Wiley-Blackwell, c1998-
    • Subject Terms:
      Child Development/*physiology ; Cognition/*physiology ; Concept Formation/*physiology ; Executive Function/*physiology ; Learning/*physiology ; Visual Perception/*physiology; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Problem Solving/physiology ; Symbolism
    • Abstract:
      In two experiments, 330 3- to 4-year-olds competed for stickers in a game in which the optimal response strategy was to point to an empty box that their opponent would receive in order to obtain a baited box for themselves. When the baited box contained stickers, children showed a strong tendency to point at the baited box and therefore lose the stickers to their opponent. In Experiment 1 children performed better when the number of stickers to be won was represented with one of five different types of symbol: numerals, number words, dots, a photograph or sweets. In Experiment 2 children transferred their improved performance in symbolic conditions to non-symbolic conditions. These findings suggest that symbols enable children to formulate an efficient response strategy, and that this effect may be qualitatively different in children from the effect of symbols in non-human primates.
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20091021 Date Completed: 20091228 Latest Revision: 20091020
    • Publication Date:
      20221213
    • Accession Number:
      10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00856.x
    • Accession Number:
      19840061