What does this research mean for the field?

Early childhood executive function development follows three distinct, divergent trajectories, with the quality of the home environment serving as the strongest predictor of advantageous developmental pathways. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine longitudinal trajectories of executive function in early childhood between ages 3 and 6 and determine their associations with child, caregiver, and home environment characteristics.

September 8, 2026Brain SciencesOpen Access

Diverging Paths: Heterogeneity in Early Childhood Executive Function Development in Chile

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Authors

CMCamila MartínezPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile PSPamela Soto‐RamírezPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile MNMarigen NareaUnited States Department of Justice

Discussion

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Implication

Longitudinal cohort study reveals divergent executive function trajectories in young children, highlighting the primary role of home environment quality in cognitive growth.

Key Points

To examine longitudinal trajectories of executive function in early childhood between ages 3 and 6 and determine their associations with child, caregiver, and home environment characteristics.
Analyzed data from the Chilean longitudinal First Thousand Days cohort (Mil Primeros Días; n = 583).
Assessed executive function at ages 3, 5, and 6 using the Cat-Dog task.
Identified developmental trajectories using latent profile analysis and evaluated predictors of trajectory membership with multinomial logistic regression.
Identified three distinct executive function trajectories: Normative (54.5%), Persistently Disadvantaged (34.6%), and Advantaged Accelerating (10.8%).
Higher home environment quality predicted membership in the Advantaged Accelerating trajectory (RRR = 1.59) and Normative trajectory (RRR = 1.21) relative to the Persistently Disadvantaged trajectory.
Early cognitive development protected against the Persistently Disadvantaged trajectory, whereas distal sociodemographic factors and caregiver well-being showed no significant associations with trajectory membership.

Cite This Study

Martínez et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b4771d https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16090946

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September 8, 2026Brain SciencesOpen Access

Diverging Paths: Heterogeneity in Early Childhood Executive Function Development in Chile

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

CMCamila MartínezPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile PSPamela Soto‐RamírezPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile MNMarigen NareaUnited States Department of Justice

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Longitudinal cohort study reveals divergent executive function trajectories in young children, highlighting the primary role of home environment quality in cognitive growth.

Key Points

To examine longitudinal trajectories of executive function in early childhood between ages 3 and 6 and determine their associations with child, caregiver, and home environment characteristics.
Analyzed data from the Chilean longitudinal First Thousand Days cohort (Mil Primeros Días; n = 583).
Assessed executive function at ages 3, 5, and 6 using the Cat-Dog task.
Identified developmental trajectories using latent profile analysis and evaluated predictors of trajectory membership with multinomial logistic regression.
Identified three distinct executive function trajectories: Normative (54.5%), Persistently Disadvantaged (34.6%), and Advantaged Accelerating (10.8%).
Higher home environment quality predicted membership in the Advantaged Accelerating trajectory (RRR = 1.59) and Normative trajectory (RRR = 1.21) relative to the Persistently Disadvantaged trajectory.
Early cognitive development protected against the Persistently Disadvantaged trajectory, whereas distal sociodemographic factors and caregiver well-being showed no significant associations with trajectory membership.

Cite This Study

Martínez et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b4771d https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16090946

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