Researchers

Discover new insights.
A collection of key findings on executive function research in early childhood and beyond. Use our award-winning MEFS App™ to collect valid and reliable Executive Function data.

Child Executive Function Skills Research
Measuring Cognitive Flexibility, Working Memory, and Inhibitory Control Skills
Reliability of the MEFS App™
Pre-screening helps determine who can benefit most from EF guidance
Measuring EF over time shows efficacy of teaching and curriculum
Quick feedback provides data on efficacy of activities
Early activity is critical to help prevent children from falling behind
The Role of Executive Function in a Clinical Setting
Understanding, Measuring, and Improving Executive Functioning Issues

Download a description of the MEFS tool.
In this new Institute of Education Sciences paper, Reflection Sciences, Inc. Co-founder Dr. Phil Zelazo and Co-authors Clancy B. Blair and Michael T. Willoughby highlight key findings on executive function in relation to its relevance in educational research and practice. Read the full article here.
The CSUS is a validated caregiver-report measure of children’s developing understanding of the mind and mental states of others, such as what other people perceive, think, and feel. This awareness grows throughout childhood, and is highly correlated with executive function (EF) (e.g., Carlson & Moses, 2001; Devine & Hughes, 2014). With stronger EF skills, children are better able to see things from another person’s perspective, as well as their own. Together, EF and social understanding provide a foundation for successful social interactions and conflict resolution.
Download the Long CSUS Form.
Download the Short CSUS Form.
The DEFSS is a standardized set of photographic stimuli, including both child and adult faces, that has been validated by participants across a range of ages. It consists of 404 validated facial photographs of people between 8 and 30 years old displaying five different emotional expressions: happy, angry, fearful, sad, and neutral.
Download the DEFSS Files.