The Interplay Between Proficiency and Executive Control

The three contributions to this book section—performance, control, and selective attention—suggest that executive functions (EFs), such as inhibition, attention control, switching, and working memory, affect numerical processing. This is true not only for basic numerical tasks but also for higher-level tasks and accordingly, EFs modulate strategic variation. Moreover, EFs are required for the appropriate development of numerical concepts in early childhood. This assertion notwithstanding, it seems that there may be another path of influence. It is possible that proficiency in numerical cognition might affect the use of EFs. In particular, proficiency may lead to more efficient use of EF resources and it may enable control. We discuss this bidirectional possibility and suggest that it is true not only for numerical cognition but also actually generalizes to other areas of proficiency (e.g., language).