The Multi-Scale Dynamics of Executive Function

<p>Cognitive control is a central issue in developmental psychology. Traditional theories of psychology solve this problem by positing a top-down central executive, which coordinates cognitive resources in pursuit of goals. We propose an alternative explanation: cognitive control arises from physical interactions across many different timescales within the system. College and preschool aged participants were asked to complete a simple executive function task, card sorting. We found that multi-scale physical interactions differed depending on experimental constraints, and that executive function in these cases was driven primarily by flexibility in multi-scale interactions, rather than the dominance of one scale. This suggests that, rather than being the workings of a higher order central executive, cognitive control may be driven by physical interactions within the system.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Anastas, Jason

Contributors dc:contributor

• Marie Coppola; Heather Bortfeld
• James Dixon

• Executive Function
• Development
• Self-organization

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/225

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu:gs_theses-1253