Journal article
Processing speed deficits: A missing link in understanding individual variation in children's interval timing skills?
Developmental psychology
06/01/2026
DOI: 10.1037/dev0002217
PMCID: PMC13227912
PMID: 42224002
Abstract
The goal of this study was to explore the possible moderating and mediating roles of processing speed in children’s interval timing performance. Nine- to 11-year-old children (N = 103; 53% male; 67% White, 4% Black, 5% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 9% biracial/mixed identity, 12% unknown) performed behavioral interval timing, executive functioning, and processing speed tasks, along with a movement skills assessment. We found that processing speed moderated the relation between movement skills and interval timing such that poorer movement skills most strongly predicted more variable interval timing in children with very slow processing speed. Processing speed also statistically mediated the relation between poorer executive functions (working memory and inhibitory control) and more variable interval timing. This suggests that children with movement difficulties who also have very slow processing speed may be most at risk for dysfunctions in timing-based movement skills and that slow processing speed may interfere with efficient operation of executive functions involved in interval timing skills. We discuss the possible role that processing speed may play in understanding individual variation in children’s interval timing skills and how combined difficulties in timing skills, motor ability, and processing speed may represent a particularly at-risk profile for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Processing speed deficits: A missing link in understanding individual variation in children's interval timing skills?
- Creators
- Morgan N Di Napoli Parr - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of IowaMegan Noonan - University of IowaIman Noferesti - University of IowaJessica Wang - University of IowaJacob Stoffel - University of IowaElizabeth E O'Neal - University of IowaJoseph K Kearney - University of IowaJodie M Plumert - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Developmental psychology
- DOI
- 10.1037/dev0002217
- PMID
- 42224002
- PMCID
- PMC13227912
- NLM abbreviation
- Dev Psychol
- ISSN
- 0012-1649
- eISSN
- 1939-0599
- Publisher
- AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
- Grant note
- University of Iowa; Development and Learning From Theory to Application Center National Institutes of Health; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 06/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- The National Advanced Driving Simulator; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Injury Prevention Research Center; Computer Science; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9985167576802771
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