Identifying factors that contribute to spatial thinking is of great interest given links between spatial thinking and success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Working memory has been found to be predictive of spatial thinking but little research has explored other components of executive function (i.e., inhibition and shifting) in relation to spatial thinking. A total of 131 4- to 6-year-olds (M_age = 5.06; 53.4% male; 56% Latinx, 18% White, 12% Mixed Race, 5% Asian, and 5% other) were assessed using spatial, executive function, and intelligence tasks. Results show that inhibition, shifting, and working memory are all associated with intrinsic and extrinsic spatial task scores. These results advance developmental theory on spatial thinking and offer a promising route for future interventions in improving spatial ability.

中文翻译：

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执行功能对幼儿空间思维的贡献

鉴于空间思维与科学、技术、工程和数学 (STEM) 学科中的成功之间的联系，确定有助于空间思维的因素非常有趣。工作记忆被发现可以预测空间思维，但很少有研究探索与空间思维相关的执行功能的其他组成部分（即抑制和转移）。共有 131 名 4 至 6 岁（M_年龄 = 5.06; 53.4% 男性；56% 的拉丁裔、18% 的白人、12% 的混血儿、5% 的亚裔和 5% 的其他人）使用空间、执行功能和智力任务进行评估。结果表明，抑制、转移和工作记忆都与内在和外在空间任务得分相关。这些结果推进了空间思维的发展理论，并为未来提高空间能力的干预措施提供了一条有希望的途径。