Cognitive Executive Processes and Mental Capacity on the Compound Stimulus Visual Information Task in a Group of Zulu-Speaking Children

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of arousal and temporal executive training in the measurement of M-power using the Compound Stimulus Visual Information test (CSVI). Exploratory research has indicated that the standard CSVI training procedure may need to incorporate additional training when used cross-culturally to ensure familiarity with the executive demands of the task. Eleven-year-old (n = 59) and 13-year-old (n = 55) Zulu-speaking children were trained and tested on the tachistoscopic version of the CSVI. Within each age group, subjects were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of approximately the same size. One group was trained to use arousal executives, another group to use temporal executives, and the third group received no further training. Following training, subjects were retested on the CSVI. Following this testing, the training procedures were reversed and the subjects received either arousal or temporal training with the control group receiving no training. All subjects were retested again on the CSVI. Although training of cognitive executive processes does not appear to improve task performance, clear learning and developmental effects are demonstrated.