Behavioral and brain dynamics of executive control in relation to children’s fluid intelligence

Abstract

According to the dual mechanism of cognitive control theory, executive processes can be proactive when there is effort to monitor the context and control is implemented from before an imperative event occur, or reactive if control processes only take place after the appearance of the imperative event. During childhood, the coordination of both types of control protractedly evolve from more reactive towards a more proactive.In adults, a relationship between increased use of proactive control and fluid intelligence has been observed. In the current study, we examined whether the dynamics of executive control vary in children who differ in fluid intelligence. We employed the AX–CPT paradigm together with ERP registration to examine behavioral and brain dynamics of proactive and reactive control, including processes of anticipation, conflict monitoring and inhibition. Children with higher fluid intelligence showed better behavioral indices of proactive control, together with increased brain preparation to response cues and increased subsequent inhibition costs when the response was finally not required. This suggests that fluid intelligence in childhood is related to the capacity to implement a more proactive strategy even when executive control is not yet fully developed.