De Relatie Tussen Werkgeheugen en Inhibitie Gemeten via Neuropsychologische Tests en een Gedragsvragenlijst

Abstract

This study examined whether a relation exists between neuropsychological tasks and a questionnaire developed to measure executive functions in daily life, in particular working memory and inhibition, in children aged 5 to 8. In addition, the effects of the independent variables sex and age on working memory and inhibition were studied. Forty-four Dutch boys and 54 Dutch girls (Mage =7 years, SD = 1,1) completed neuropsychological tasks aimed to measure working memory and inhibition. In addition, their parents completed the Dutch translation of the parent form for the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), aimed to measure working memory and inhibition in daily life. A significant correlation (r = -0.325, p = < 0.05) was found between scores on working memory tasks from neuropsychological tasks and the scores on the subscale working memory from the BRIEF (R2 = 10.2). Furthermore, a significant effect was observed for the independent variables on neuropsychological tasks, but no significant effect was found for the independent variables on working memory and inhibition measured with the BRIEF. Findings suggest that working memory performance measured by neuropsychological tasks predict scores on the BRIEF. In addition, results from the neuropsychological tasks support the assumption that working memory and inhibition improve as children grow older. They also support the assumption that sex affects working memory and inhibition. Further research required to examine whether inhibition performance measured by neuropsychological tasks predict scores on the BRIEF.