Public research record
Infant Motor Competence Predicts Executive Functions in Preschoolers: The Role of Sleep.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
- DOI 10.3390/bs16020288
- PMID 41750097
- PMCID PMC12937647
Study snapshot
What this research can tell you
- What is this?
- An indexed scholarly work. The study design is not available in this public record.
- Who did it?
- Liu C, Zhang Y, Liang X
- What did they study?
- Population details are not available in this public record.
- How should I read it?
- FamilyPhD does not assign a strength rating without enough structured study detail.
What was found
The structured finding summary is not available. The study abstract is shown below.
Limitations
Structured limitations are not available in this public record. Absence here does not mean the study has no limitations.
Where FamilyPhD has used it
FamilyPhD may cite this work when it supports a specific answer. A public history of individual answer use is not currently available, so no contribution relationship is implied on this page.
From the publication record
Study abstract
The abstract is publication text, not a FamilyPhD recommendation.
The theory of embodied cognition suggests that cognitive development in infancy relies on sensorimotor experiences gained through interaction with the environment. Additionally, the need for more sleep in early childhood may be linked to the development of executive functions. This study examined 255 children in Beijing to investigate these ideas. Motor skills were evaluated at 6 months and 1 year old, cognitive abilities at 2 years old, and executive functions at 3 years old. The results showed that strong motor skills in infancy predicted better executive functions in preschool, and this relationship was fully mediated by cognitive abilities. Furthermore, the mediating effects of cognitive abilities on executive functions were stronger in preschoolers with more and better sleep. In conclusion, motor competence and sufficient sleep are crucial for the development of executive function.
