How attention factors into executive function in preschool children

Executive Function consists of self-regulation processes which underlie our ability to plan, coordinate, and complete goal-directed actions in daily lives. While attention is widely considered be central the emergence development executive function during early childhood, it not clear if integral or separable from other processes. Previous studies have addressed this question satisfactorily because are multidimensional constructs, but they often studied without differentiating specific that tested. Moreover, some consist only one task per process, making difficult ascertain pattern results attributable different more simply variance. The main aim study was fully investigate how factored into underlying structure preschool children. Preschool children ( n = 137) completed a battery tasks included (i.e., response inhibition, working memory) attentional control sustained attention, selective attention) processes; there were two process. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) conducted test three models fit data best: (1) unitary one-factor model with loading onto same as processes, (2) two-factor separate than (3) three-factor memory factors. Fit indices comparisons indicated best, suggesting related, separable. Although first advocate for years, suggest factors function, inhibition. One important implication these findings assessment years necessitates measuring inhibition memory, well.