Thesis
Examining the Interplay between Temperament, Cognition, and Brain Activity
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006295
Abstract
This thesis examines the impact of executive function (EF) on childhood development and its relation to temperament, specifically the dimensions of approach and avoidance. EF encompasses cognitive processes related to self-regulation and significantly impacts school readiness, academic achievement, and long-term health and social outcomes. This thesis explores how approach and avoidance-oriented behaviors influence executive function processes. Moreover, this thesis also examines how patterns of brain activity are related to temperament and cognitive abilities. The results show that children who are high in fear perform better in emotionally salient tasks compared to neutral tasks, indicating a relationship between fear and task performance. Results indicate fear is linked to left alpha activity over the frontal brain region, contradicting previous research and my hypotheses, suggesting that fear may be associated with approach motivation rather than avoidance. The implications of this research extend to early intervention strategies for anxiety disorders and provide physiological insights by revealing unique neural patterns among children high in fear. While the study acknowledges limitations, it sheds light on the complex dynamics between cognition, temperament, and brain activity in early childhood.
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Details
- Title
- Examining the Interplay between Temperament, Cognition, and Brain Activity
- Creators
- Aryn M Vaughan
- Contributors
- Sammy Perone (Advisor)Nicole Scalise (Committee Member)Maria Gartstein (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 57
- Identifiers
- 99901086433401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis