Table 2.
Description of Executive Control Tasks
| EC Task | Brief Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Working Memory | ||
| Delayed Alternation | Participant attempts to find a reward by choosing between two locations. Reward location alternates, so the participant must remember the previous location after a delay. | Espy et al. (1999); Goldman et al. (1971) |
| Nine Boxes | Nine boxes of different colors and shapes are presented, and the participant is asked to search the boxes for a reward. Participant must remember boxes previously searched to locate the reward in the fewest trials. | Adapted from Diamond et al. (1997) |
| Nebraska Barnyard | Participant is presented with a 3x3 field of boxes with locations of animal figures. Participant is asked the locations of animal sequences after pictures are removed, requiring the child to remember the locations. | Adapted from Hughes et al. Noisy Book task (1998) |
| Inhibitory Control | ||
| Big-Little Stroop | Stimuli of small objects embedded within larger objects are presented to the participant. The participant is asked to verbally name the smaller object, requiring the larger object name to be suppressed. | Adapted from Kochanska et al. (2000) |
| Go/No-Go | Participant is presented with a series of stimuli on screen consisting of either a fish or a shark. The participant is asked to press a button when presented with a fish but to refrain from pressing the button when presented with a shark. | Adapted from Simpson & Riggs (2006) |
| Shape School Inhibit | Cartoon stimuli are presented on a screen consisting of either a happy or sad face. The participant is asked to verbally name the color of stimulus for happy faces and to refrain from naming the color for sad faces. | Espy (1997); Espy et al. (2006) |
| modified Snack Delay | The participant is seated at a table near a candy reward. The child is asked to sit still until the tester rings a bell. | Adapted from Konchanska et al. (1996); Korkman et al. (1998) |
| Flexible Shifting | ||
| Shape School - Switching | Cartoon stimuli of different colors that are either wearing a hat or not wearing a hat are presented. The participant is asked to name the stimulus shape when the cartoon is wearing a hat and name the stimulus color when the cartoon is not wearing a hat. | Espy (1997); Espy et al. (2006) |
| Trails - Switching | Participant is presented with a page consisting of dog and bone stimuli. The participant is asked to stamp stimuli alternating between dogs and bones. | Adapted from Espy & Cwik (2004) |