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The Domain‐Specificity of Domain‐Generality: Attention, Executive Function, and Academic Skills.

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Title: The Domain‐Specificity of Domain‐Generality: Attention, Executive Function, and Academic Skills.
Authors: Wilkey, Eric D.1 (AUTHOR) eric.d.wilkey@vanderbilt.edu
Source: Mind, Brain & Education. Nov2023, Vol. 17 Issue 4, p349-361. 13p.
Subject Terms: *Phonological decoding, *Cognitive ability, *Learning disabilities, *Mental arithmetic, Executive function, Control (Psychology)
Abstract: Attention and executive functions (EFs) play a critical role in academic skill development, including literacy and numeracy. Deficits in attention and EFs often accompany learning disorders, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. Despite their well‐established link, we lack a nuanced understanding of the specific neurobiological mechanisms that integrate the higher order cognitive processes of EFs (e.g., cognitive control) with the control of lower‐level cognition related to domain‐specific skills (e.g., processing numerical information). While attention and EFs have been identified as key factors in domain‐specific cognition and learning, the focus on its domain‐generality may hinder exploration of its domain‐specific roots. Using the example of number processing, I detail a series of neuroimaging studies exploring how domain‐specific mechanisms interact with domain‐general processing. They suggest that a better understanding of the hierarchical nature of higher order control of lower‐level processing is necessary to explain the relation between attention, EFs, and academic skills. Attention and executive functions (EFs) are crucial for developing academic abilities such as reading and math. However, we do not fully grasp the brain mechanisms connecting EFs with specific skill areas like number processing and phonological decoding. To better understand the connection between EFs and academic skills, I show that we must explore the hierarchy of complex cognitive control and basic numeracy and reading skills. In this commentary, I make suggestions for furthering this research goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Mind, Brain & Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The Domain‐Specificity of Domain‐Generality: Attention, Executive Function, and Academic Skills.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Mind%2C+Brain+%26+Education%22">Mind, Brain & Education</searchLink>. Nov2023, Vol. 17 Issue 4, p349-361. 13p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phonological+decoding%22">Phonological decoding</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+disabilities%22">Learning disabilities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+arithmetic%22">Mental arithmetic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Executive+function%22">Executive function</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Control+%28Psychology%29%22">Control (Psychology)</searchLink>
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  Data: Attention and executive functions (EFs) play a critical role in academic skill development, including literacy and numeracy. Deficits in attention and EFs often accompany learning disorders, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. Despite their well‐established link, we lack a nuanced understanding of the specific neurobiological mechanisms that integrate the higher order cognitive processes of EFs (e.g., cognitive control) with the control of lower‐level cognition related to domain‐specific skills (e.g., processing numerical information). While attention and EFs have been identified as key factors in domain‐specific cognition and learning, the focus on its domain‐generality may hinder exploration of its domain‐specific roots. Using the example of number processing, I detail a series of neuroimaging studies exploring how domain‐specific mechanisms interact with domain‐general processing. They suggest that a better understanding of the hierarchical nature of higher order control of lower‐level processing is necessary to explain the relation between attention, EFs, and academic skills. Attention and executive functions (EFs) are crucial for developing academic abilities such as reading and math. However, we do not fully grasp the brain mechanisms connecting EFs with specific skill areas like number processing and phonological decoding. To better understand the connection between EFs and academic skills, I show that we must explore the hierarchy of complex cognitive control and basic numeracy and reading skills. In this commentary, I make suggestions for furthering this research goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Mind, Brain & Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Nov2023
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