• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.131-148
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• 2020

This study examined the dual mediating effects of preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking in the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' higher-order thinking. Participants included 293 preschoolers and their mothers in Daegu city and Gyeongsang province. The mothers completed questionnaires regarding their reflective functioning, preschoolers' executive function, and creative thinking. Teachers completed questionnaires regarding preschoolers' critical thinking and caring thinking. Preschoolers' counterfactual thinking was measured by interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis with SPSS 25.0. Path analysis and bootstrapping were used with AMOS 25.0 program. Also, specific indirect effect were analyzed using AMOS user-defined estimand function. The primary results of this study are as follows. Maternal reflective functioning had an indirect effect on preschoolers' critical thinking and caring thinking through preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking; however, maternal reflective functioning had no indirect effect on preschoolers' creative thinking through preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking. This study revealed that maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking need to be considered simultaneously to explain the level of preschoolers' higher-order thinking. The results highlight the dual mediating effects of preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking in the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' higher-order thinking.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.122-136
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to explore the features and features of causes of communicative deficits in high-functioning autistic children in order to intervene educational programs. When communicating with others, high-functioning autistic children have difficulties in the aspects of syntax and semantics, especially pragmatics. These causes of communicative deficits of high-functioning autistic children can be explained respectively by theory of mind, executive function, and central coherence theory. According to theory of mind, qualitative impairment of interaction and communication accounts for communicative deficits. Executive function argues that communicative deficits of high-functioning autistic children be caused by limited concern. Central coherence theory suggests that communicative deficits be caused by the inappropriate integration of cues. Considering these causes of communicative deficits in high-functioning autistic children, we proposed educational strategies order to intervene educational programs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2063-2071
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• 2012

Mathematics is among the most important subjects in the middle school curriculum, yet the most hated subjects by students. The present study investigated the role of perceived executive functioning on the middle school student's mathematics achievement, after controlling for other psychological factors. Results showed that the students levels of executive functioning was predictive of their mathematics achievement test scores, even after motivational and attitude variables were controlled. The impact of the executive functioning was especially noticeable for the low achievers. On the other hand, for those whose scores were high, biological variables were the only significant predictors of their scores. The results of the present study imply that the intervention programs for improving mathematics achievement of middle school students should consider the different effect of cognitive and psychological factors on their achievements.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.219-225
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• 2020

Background: There is increasing concern that moderate preterm (32-33 weeks' gestation) and late preterm (34-36 weeks' gestation) birth may be associated with minor neurodevelopmental problems affecting poor school performance. Purpose: We explored the cognitive function, cognitive visual function, executive function, and behavioral problems at school age in moderate to late preterm infants. Methods: Children aged 7-10 years who were born at 32⁺⁰ to 36⁺⁶ weeks of gestation and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from August 2006 to July 2011 at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital were included. We excluded children with severe neurologic impairments, congenital malformations, or chromosomal abnormalities. Neuropsychological assessments consisted of 5 neuropsychological tests and 3 questionnaires. Results: A total of 37 children (mean age, 9.1±1.2 years) participated. The mean gestational age at birth was 34.6±7.5 weeks, while the mean birth weight was 2,229.2±472.8 g. The mean full-scale intelligence quotient was 92.89±11.90; 24.3% scored between 70 and 85 (borderline intelligence functioning). An abnormal score was noted for at least one of the variables on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic system for 65% of the children. Scores below borderline function for executive quotient and memory quotient were 32.4% and 24.3%, respectively. Borderline or clinically relevant internalizing problems were noted in 13.5% on the Child Behavior Check List. There were no significant associations between perinatal factors or socioeconomic status and cognitive, visual perception, executive function, or behavior outcomes. Conclusion: Moderate to late preterm infants are at risk of developing borderline intelligence functioning and attention problems at early school age. Cognitive and executive functions that are important for academic performance must be carefully monitored and continuously followed up in moderate to late preterm infants.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among mothers' reflective function, preschoolers' empathy, executive function, caring behaviors. Subjects for this study were 498 preschoolers and their mothers. Mothers' reflective function was assessed by the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire(PRFQ). Preschoolers' empathy was assessed by the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(QCAE). Preschoolers' executive function was assessed by the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions-Preschool Version(BRIEF-P), and caring behaviors were assessed by the caring behaviors scale(Kim, 2015). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis(CFA), and structural equation model(SEM) with the SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program. The major results of this study were as follows. First, mothers' reflective function showed direct effects on preschoolers' empathy, executive function, and caring behaviors. Second, the preschoolers' empathy and executive function showed direct effects on preschoolers' caring behaviors. Third, preschoolers' empathy mediated the effects of mothers' reflective function on preschoolers' caring behaviors. The findings of this study will contribute to designing intervention programs to improve preschoolers' empathy, executive function, and caring behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

Higher cognitive functions refer to the highest level of human intellectual functioning, including concept formation, reasoning, and executive functions. The executive functions can be conceptualized as having four components : volition, planning, purposive action, and effective performance. Because higher cognitive functions represent the most advanced stages of intellectual development, they are often highly susceptible to the effects of brain injuries and mental disorders. The ability to perform effectively within the environment is determined in large part by an individual's adequacy in performing such higher-order functions. Especially executive functions are necessary for appropriate, socially responsible, and effectively self-serving adult conduct. Threfore, an assessment of the psychiatric patient's performance in these areas will provide useful diagnostic information, as well as information concerning social and vocational prognosis.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.299-308
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the mediating effect of executive function deficiencies on the relationship between smartphone addiction and memory impairment and to suggest treatment implications for adults with smartphone addiction symptoms. For this study, 300 adults(146 males and 154 females) were conducted smartphone addiction scale, Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale-Short Form(BDEFS-SF), and Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire(MMQ). The results are as follows. First, correlation analyses showed that smartphone addiction, executive function deficiencies, and memory impairment were positively correlated. Second, Smartphone addiction group showed significantly higher scores on all of the subfactors of executive function and memory impairment. Third, Stepwise regression analyses revealed that self-organization/problem solving, self-management to time, self-restraint, and withdrawal were the best predictors of memory impairment. Forth, Executive function deficiencies fully mediated the relationship between smartphone addiction and memory impairment. These findings were considered to suggest that treatment programs for smartphone addiction group needed to include training for cognitive improvement such as executive function rehabilitation.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2017

Objective: Whereas some studies have suggested that source monitoring is significantly associated with working memory and inhibitory control, both of which are components of executive functioning, other studies have argued otherwise. The author of this study determined that such contradictory findings are a result of heterogeneity in the assessment methods for source monitoring. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring whether the relationships among source monitoring, working memory, and inhibitory control may be altered depending on the differences of source recall conditions. Methods: Eighty children aged 5-8 years saw interesting activities via two different sources. Their source memories on the activity were assessed subsequently. The children were assigned to either the "continuous" source recall group or "non-continuous" source recall group. Both groups participated in working memory and inhibitory control tasks. Results: The results showed that working memory was significantly related to source monitoring regardless of the condition of source recall (continuous vs non-continuous). On the other hand, inhibitory control was significantly associated with source monitoring only in the non-continuous source recall group. Conclusion: Based on these results, the author discussed the need to consider the conditions of source recall during investigative interviews with children in order to induce accurate source monitoring, as part of our effort to interpret the inconsistency of results in the literature and to draw potential applications.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.924-934
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• 2017

Objective To investigate the anatomical correlates of the neuropsychological deficits in patients with the cerebellar stroke. Methods We screened patients who were admitted to the National Rehabilitation Center with the cerebellar stroke between October 2012 and November 2016. The patients with the cerebellar stroke who underwent neuropsychological testing for which the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) or the SNSB-II were enrolled. The neuropsychological function capacities were compared in accordance with the stroke type (hemorrhagic vs. ischemic) and the location (right/left anterior, right/left posterior intermediate, right/left posterior lateral lobe, and vermis). Mean z-scores were computed to compare the patient performances with the population averages. Results Twenty-six patients (15 with ischemic stroke and 11 with hemorrhagic stroke) with a mean age of $54.8{\pm}16.6$ years were assessed $8.8{\pm}9.2$ months after the stroke. Differences in the neuropsychological functioning according to the stroke type were not observed. All of the numerical subtests of the stroke patients showed significantly poorer performances compared with the population averages (mean z-score <0), and some of the subtests revealed abnormal performances in attention-, visuospatial function-, memory-, and frontal/executive function-related tasks (mean z-score <-1). The patients with the presence of a lesion in the right posterior intermediate lobe of the cerebellum showed a poorer performance in the subtests evaluating the executive function including the Korean-version Stroop Test (p=0.04), the Digit Symbol Coding Test (p=0.01), and the Korean-version Trail Making Test (p=0.02) compared with the patients without that lesion. Conclusion The present study confirms that the cerebellar stroke affects the neuropsychological functioning which is associated with the anatomical site of stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine whether children with Tourette disorder (TD) have functional impairment and executive dysfunction in comparison to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and non-affected controls. Methods : From January 2006 to December 2013, 45 children and adolescents with TD and 50 children and adolescents with ADHD diagnosed at the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital and 50 non-affected controls were enrolled in this study. Functional impairment of the subjects was assessed using the Child and Adolescents Functioning Impairment Scale (CAFIS), parent and teacher versions. In addition, neuropsychological tests including Stroop color-word Test, Finger windows Test (FWT), and Digit span were administered. Outcomes were compared across the TD, ADHD, and non-affected controls. Results : No difference in CAFIS-parent and CAFIS-teacher results was observed between children with TD and non-affected controls, whereas, children with ADHD showed more impairments relative to non-affected controls in the CAFIS-parent. According to the Stroop color-word Test, FWT, and Digit span, executive function in children with TD did not differ from non-affected controls. Children with ADHD had poorer performance in measures of the Stroop color-word Test compared to children with TD. Conclusion : Children and adolescents with TD but not ADHD were not significantly different from non-affected controls on most measures of functional impairment and executive function. These findings suggest that an education program and intervention for children with TD would be important to reducing the stigma of TD.