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

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究代表了一个更大的项目，旨在连接神经，认知/发展，教育和文化的角度在幼儿执行功能的性质和增长来源的研究探索性的一步。这项更广泛的计划将汇集来自一系列学科和观点的科学家，研究学校教育对执行功能（特别是注意力控制和反应抑制）中大脑和行为变化的影响。这项研究的范围提出了各种挑战，特别是需要收集电生理数据（通过ERP测量）对年轻的学前班和幼儿园儿童。虽然传统的脑电图记录系统体积庞大，难以运输，但最近的系统更容易运输，提高了在学校环境中测试儿童的可能性。在孩子自己的学校进行测试的便利性和熟悉性使得招募和测试参与者对参与者和实验者来说都容易得多。此外，在学校环境中进行测试将有助于提高来自社会经济地位低背景的儿童以及其他面临风险的儿童的参与。本申请在第1年期间的主要目的是在学校环境中获得并系统地测试来自生物半主动二ERP系统的操作和数据。一个相关的目的是制定和评估两项措施的执行功能，可用于与便携式系统与4-5岁的儿童。最后，在第二年，将进行一个小规模的自然实验（学校截止），研究学校教育对执行控制的神经和行为措施的影响。 公共卫生相关性：该研究做出了几项重要贡献。首先，研究结果将评估利用便携式ERP系统直接在学校环境中收集幼儿电生理数据的可行性。便携式系统的实用性的确认将是显着的好处，认知/发展和神经科学研究人员与这个年龄组的工作。此外，研究结果将阐明早期学校教育对执行功能发展的影响。在这样做的过程中，该项目将有助于更充分地了解学校环境在塑造这一基本技能的发展方面的重要性。在更广泛的层面上，拟议的工作将有助于在执行功能的研究中形成几个新的方向，整合几个层次的分析，并产生一个更全面，更全面的理解执行功能的性质，其神经基础，发展和教育意义。

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.