The development of executive functions (EF) is shaped by both genetic and environmental factors, including cultural background. Genetically, variation in the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism has been linked to EF performance and differential regulation of prefrontal cortex activity. Based on the gene–culture interaction framework, we tested whether culture would moderate the association between the COMT gene and young children's behavioral responses and neural activities during a cognitive‐shifting EF task. The children who participated in this study were 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds in Japan (n = 44) and in the U.S. (n = 47). The results revealed that U.S.‐American children exhibited stronger activations than Japanese children in the right dorsolateral and bilateral prefrontal cortex regions. In addition, the children's genetic disposition and EF performance were marginally moderated by culture, with Val homozygote Japanese children performing better than Met‐allele carriers, whereas no such differences were found in U.S.‐American children. We have discussed the theoretical and empirical implications of the construction of a more complete understanding of EF development by incorporating both genetic and socio‐cultural factors.
The ability to engage others in close proximity may be an essential component of social life and shapes the development of social skills. Variation in the willingness to initiate and sustain close interaction with conspecifics is known as sociability. The Brown‐headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) uses an affiliative display called the head‐down to bring individuals into close proximity. During fall 2009, we manipulated a large flock of cowbirds in a fission–fusion perturbation and recorded the frequency of head‐downs and social approaches. During the fission–fusion perturbation, the rate of head‐downs remained both correlated and repeatable across perturbations. In spring 2010, we separated individuals into three aviaries, a high, intermediate, and low aviary, based on the frequency of head‐down displays they initiated during the previous fall 2009. When breeding, males in the high flock produced a higher number of songs within counter‐singing matches, and females laid more eggs in comparison with the other aviaries. These findings suggest that head‐down displays performed outside the breeding season may contribute to the development and maintenance of reproductive competence by providing intimate social interactions with others.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.