Hot and Cool Executive Functions Play a Minor Role for Cross-Sectional Development of Episodic Foresight in Preschoolers

In theory, episodic foresight (EpF) develops with growing executive functions (EF) and their impact depends on motivation (event importance, current desires). In two theory-driven, cross-sectional, large-scale experiments, children (3-5 years, N = 613) completed an EpF task and five EF tasks (working memory, affective decision making, inhibitory control, modulation of affective bottom-up processes, shifting). Event importance (high vs. low) and current desires (Experiment 1: compatible vs. neutral; Experiment 2: conflicting vs. neutral) were manipulated. EF did not mediate age differences in EpF irrespective of event importance and current desires. In line with previous empirical studies, current results suggest that EF may play a less important role in EpF development than assumed.