Schooling influences on growth of executive functioning: steps to an integrative

描述（由申请人提供）：这项拟议的研究代表了一个更大项目的探索性步骤，该项目旨在将神经学、认知/发展、教育和文化视角与儿童早期执行功能的本质和增长来源的研究联系起来。更广泛的倡议将汇集来自一系列学科和观点的科学家，研究学校教育对大脑和执行功能（特别是注意力控制和反应抑制）的行为变化的影响。这项研究的范围提出了各种各样的挑战，特别是需要收集学龄前和幼儿园儿童的电生理数据（通过ERP测量）。虽然传统的脑电图记录系统体积庞大且难以运输，但最近的系统更容易运输，从而提高了在学校环境中对儿童进行测试的可能性。在孩子自己的学校进行测试的便利和熟悉使得招募和测试参与者对参与者和实验者来说都要容易得多。此外，在学校环境中进行测试将有助于增加来自低社会经济地位背景的儿童以及其他处于危险中的儿童的参与。第一学年的主要目的是获取并系统地测试学校环境中Bio-Semi Active Two ERP系统的操作和数据。一个相关的目标是制定和评估可与4-5岁儿童的便携式系统一起使用的两项执行功能措施。最后，在第2年期间，将进行一个小规模的自然实验（辍学），检查学校教育对执行控制的神经和行为措施的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed research represents an exploratory step in a larger project aimed at linking neurological, cognitive/developmental, educational and cultural perspectives in the study of the nature and sources of growth of executive functioning in early childhood. The broader initiative will bring together scientists from an array of disciplines and perspectives to study the impact of schooling on brain and behavioral changes in executive functioning (specifically attention control and response inhibition). The scope of the study poses a variety of challenges, particularly the need to gather electrophysiological data (through ERP measurements) on young pre-K and kindergarten children. Although traditional EEG recording systems were bulky and difficult to transport, more recent systems are more easily transported, raising the possibility of testing children in a school setting. The convenience and familiarity of testing in the child's own school makes recruiting and testing participants much easier for both participant and experimenter. Further, testing in the school setting will help to increase participation of children from low SES backgrounds as well as that of other children at risk. A primary aim of the present application during year 1 is to obtain and systematically test the operation and data from a Bio-Semi Active Two ERP system in the school environment. A related aim is to develop and assess two measures of executive functioning that can be used with the portable system with 4-5 year-old children. Finally, during year 2, a small-scale natural experiment (school cutoff) will be undertaken, examining the impact of schooling on neurological and behavioral measures of executive control. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The research makes several important contributions. First, findings will assess the feasibility of utilizing a portable ERP system for gathering electrophysiological data from young children directly in their school environment. Confirmation of the utility of the portable system will be of significant benefit to cognitive/developmental and neuroscientist researchers working with this age group. Further, results will illuminate the influence of early schooling on development of executive functioning. In so doing the project will contribute to fuller understanding of the importance of the schooling environment in shaping growth of this foundational skill. On a broader plane, the proposed work will help to forge several new directions in the study of executive functioning, integrating several levels of analysis and yielding a fuller, more comprehensive understanding of the nature of executive functioning, its neurological underpinnings, development and educational significance.