Schworer, Emily, authorFidler, Deborah, advisorDaunhauer, Lisa, committee memberHepburn, Susan, committee memberKnight, Andrew, committee member2020-06-222020-06-222020https://hdl.handle.net/10217/208546Though early features of infant cognition are predictive of executive function (EF) in typically developing (TD) children, there is little information regarding the developmental origins of EF in Down syndrome (DS). The current study compared the performance of infants with DS and TD controls on four foundational EF dimensions: attention shifting, sustained attention, early planning, and processing speed, and examined the relationship between EF foundations at Time 1 and subsequent EF performance at Time 2 (6 months later). Participants were 58 infants with DS, M chronological age = 11.32 months, SD = 3.50; M developmental age = 7.93 months, SD = 2.79, and 48 TD infants, M chronological age = 7.76, SD = 3.22; M developmental age = 7.75 months, SD = 3.52. Results showed that infants with DS shifted their attention more slowly, looked for longer durations at objects, and demonstrated a longer latency to contact objects when compared to TD infants at Time 1. The association between early planning and chronological age differed by group at Time 1 as well. Attention shifting at Time 1 significantly predicted EF performance at Time 2 in the DS group. This study provides evidence that an early atypical presentation of EF precursors is detectable during infancy in DS and is predictive of subsequent EF performance. These findings will facilitate the identification of areas of early cognitive risk in DS and inform future interventions.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.executive functioninfant cognitionDown syndromeText