Melina R. Uncapher
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View article: Validation of an Adaptive Assessment of Executive Functions (Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation-Explorer): Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analyses of Cognitive Task Performance
Validation of an Adaptive Assessment of Executive Functions (Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation-Explorer): Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analyses of Cognitive Task Performance Open
Background Executive functions (EFs) predict positive life outcomes and educational attainment. Consequently, it is imperative that our measures of EF constructs are both reliable and valid, with advantages for research tools that offer ef…
View article: The Short- and Long-Term Effects of Digital Media Use on Attention
The Short- and Long-Term Effects of Digital Media Use on Attention Open
Due to the ubiquitous nature of digital media in youths’ lives, concerns have been raised that digital media might negatively affect attention. For children and adolescents, these concerns revolve around two questions. First, what are the …
View article: Validation of an Adaptive Assessment of Executive Functions (Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation-Explorer): Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analyses of Cognitive Task Performance (Preprint)
Validation of an Adaptive Assessment of Executive Functions (Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation-Explorer): Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analyses of Cognitive Task Performance (Preprint) Open
BACKGROUND Executive functions (EFs) predict positive life outcomes and educational attainment. Consequently, it is imperative that our measures of EF constructs are both reliable and valid, with advantages for research tools that offer e…
View article: Growth mindset as a protective factor for middle schoolers at academic risk
Growth mindset as a protective factor for middle schoolers at academic risk Open
Growth mindset has been shown to predict academic achievement in a variety of student populations, though the strength of the relationship can vary depending on the characteristics of the students examined. Using a large-scale sample of mi…
View article: Better together: novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity
Better together: novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity Open
Introduction Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented precise understanding of the developmental trajectory of their organization. Methods We introduce nov…
View article: Testing the whole number interference hypothesis: Contributions of inhibitory control and whole number knowledge to fraction understanding.
Testing the whole number interference hypothesis: Contributions of inhibitory control and whole number knowledge to fraction understanding. Open
The present study tests two predictions stemming from the hypothesis that a source of difficulty with rational numbers is interference from whole number magnitude knowledge. First, inhibitory control should be an independent predictor of f…
View article: Contribution of sustained attention abilities to real-world academic skills in children
Contribution of sustained attention abilities to real-world academic skills in children Open
Sustained attention is a critical cognitive ability that improves over the course of development and predicts important real-world outcomes, such as academic achievement. However, the majority of work demonstrating links between sustained …
View article: <i>Groupitizing</i> reflects conceptual developments in math cognition and inequities in math achievement from childhood through adolescence
<i>Groupitizing</i> reflects conceptual developments in math cognition and inequities in math achievement from childhood through adolescence Open
Understanding the cognitive processes central to mathematical development is crucial to addressing systemic inequities in math achievement. We investigate the “Groupitizing” ability in 1209 third to eighth graders (mean age at first timepo…
View article: Better together: Novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity
Better together: Novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity Open
Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented precise understanding of the developmental trajectory of their organization. We introduce novel methods to address…
View article: Relational thinking: An overlooked component of executive functioning
Relational thinking: An overlooked component of executive functioning Open
Relational thinking, the ability to represent abstract, generalizable relations, is a core component of reasoning and human cognition. Relational thinking contributes to fluid reasoning and academic achievement, particularly in the domain …
View article: Testing the whole number interference hypothesis: contributions of inhibitory control and whole number knowledge to fraction understanding
Testing the whole number interference hypothesis: contributions of inhibitory control and whole number knowledge to fraction understanding Open
The present study tests two predictions stemming from the hypothesis that a source of difficulty with rational numbers is interference from whole number magnitude knowledge. First, inhibitory control should be an independent predictor of f…
View article: More alike than different: Novel methods for measuring and modeling executive function development
More alike than different: Novel methods for measuring and modeling executive function development Open
Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented rigorous understanding of the precise ways EFs are organized in childhood and how they develop over time. We intro…
View article: More alike than different: Novel methods for measuring and modeling executive function development
More alike than different: Novel methods for measuring and modeling executive function development Open
Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented rigorous understanding of the precise ways EFs are organized in childhood and how they develop over time. We intro…
View article: Groupitizing reflects conceptual developments in math cognition and inequities in math achievement from childhood through adolescence.
Groupitizing reflects conceptual developments in math cognition and inequities in math achievement from childhood through adolescence. Open
Groupitizing – the ability to take advantage of grouping cues to rapidly enumerate sets that otherwise require serial counting – is linked to conceptual aspects of numbers (accessing the cardinality of subgroups) and math (combining the su…
View article: Development of Executive Function in Middle Childhood: a Large-Scale, In-School, Longitudinal Investigation
Development of Executive Function in Middle Childhood: a Large-Scale, In-School, Longitudinal Investigation Open
This manuscript describes data collection, cleaning, and quality control procedures used in a large-scale, longitudinal, in-school study of executive function skills (EFs) and academic achievement in middle childhood, Project iLEAD (in-sch…
View article: Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation
Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation Open
Meditation practices are often used to cultivate interoception or internally-oriented attention to bodily sensations, which may improve health via cognitive and emotional regulation of bodily signals. However, it remains unclear how medita…
View article: Linking inhibitory control to math achievement via comparison of conflicting decimal numbers
Linking inhibitory control to math achievement via comparison of conflicting decimal numbers Open
The relationship between executive functions (EF) and academic achievement is well-established, but leveraging this insight to improve educational outcomes remains elusive. Here, we propose a framework for relating the role of specific EF …
View article: Design Considerations for Conducting Large‐Scale Learning Research Using Innovative Technologies in Schools
Design Considerations for Conducting Large‐Scale Learning Research Using Innovative Technologies in Schools Open
Since the advent of computers, scientists who study how people learn have been utilizing technology to uncover the cognitive and neural mechanisms of learning. Recent technological advances have allowed learning scientists to move their re…
View article: Focus on the breath: Brain decoding reveals internal states of attention during meditation
Focus on the breath: Brain decoding reveals internal states of attention during meditation Open
Meditation practices are often used to cultivate interoception or internally-oriented attention to bodily sensations, which may improve health via cognitive and emotional regulation of bodily signals. However, it remains unclear how medita…
View article: Focus on the breath: Brain decoding reveals internal states of attention during meditation
Focus on the breath: Brain decoding reveals internal states of attention during meditation Open
Meditation practices are used to cultivate internally-oriented attention to bodily sensations, which may improve health via cognitive and emotion regulation of bodily signals. However, it remains unclear how meditation impacts internal att…
View article: Minds and brains of media multitaskers: Current findings and future directions
Minds and brains of media multitaskers: Current findings and future directions Open
Media and technology are ubiquitous elements of our daily lives, and their use can offer many benefits and rewards. At the same time, decisions about how individuals structure their use of media can be informed by consideration of whether,…
View article: Media Multitasking and Cognitive, Psychological, Neural, and Learning Differences
Media Multitasking and Cognitive, Psychological, Neural, and Learning Differences Open
American youth spend more time with media than any other waking activity: an average of 7.5 hours per day, every day. On average, 29% of that time is spent juggling multiple media streams simultaneously (ie, media multitasking). This pheno…
View article: Cognitive control, attention, and the other race effect in memory
Cognitive control, attention, and the other race effect in memory Open
People are better at remembering faces from their own race than other races-a phenomenon with significant societal implications. This Other Race Effect (ORE) in memory could arise from different attentional allocation to, and cognitive con…