Sensitivity to spatial conflict and the development of self-regulation in children 24-36 months of age

This paper describes a task involving conflict between location and identity, two early developing visual system functions. From 2 years of age, children, like adults, responded more slowly and less accurately when location and identity were in conflict. The ability to resolve conflict appears to be linked to individual differences in effortful control and negative emotionality. Results suggest that this measure of executive attention may reflect the development of a more general capacity for self-regulation.