Age differences in results of computer-based neuropsychological tests in 6-9 years old children

Abstract

The preschool age and early school age are associated with active cognitive development. In the current study we examined the development of cognitive functions of pre-and early school age children with the use of computer-based neuropsychological tests. The applied methodsestimated the developmental level of executive functions and processing of visual-spatial and auditory information. The sample of 454 childrenbetween the ages of 6 to 9 yearswas divided into four age groups: preschoolers, firstgraders, second graders, and third graders. In order to compare age-related differences in cognitive functioning we chose the following tests: “The Dots” (executive functions), “Corsi Block-tapping Test”(visual-spatial information processing), “Un-derstanding of similarlysounding words”(auditory information processing), and “Understanding of logical-grammatical constructions” (both executive functions and the processing of visual-spatialand auditory infor-mation). Analysis of the results revealed differential performance among the age groups, indicating of the ongoing cognitive developmentbetween the ages of 6 to 9 years. The most noticeable differences were detected between preschoolers and first gradersin the level of executive functioning. This may be due to the active maturation of the prefrontal cortex in age 6-7 years old, as well asto thetransition from playing in kindergarten to school education.The differences between the early school groups were found to be smaller. This may be indicative of slowing the pace of cognitive development in the age of 8-9 years.