Statistical learning declines from age 7 to 14, study finds

A new longitudinal study tracking children at ages 7, 8, 11, and 14 finds that statistical learning—the ability to detect patterns and predict events—declines with age, with higher executive functions linked to this decrease. The research, which used linear mixed models and latent class analyses on the same participants over time, contradicts earlier cross-sectional hints of improvement until ages 11-13. Instead, it shows statistical learning is most effective in early childhood, providing key insights into this fundamental cognitive ability's development. The study was funded by Hungarian and French research programs, including the National Brain Research Programme and the French National Research Agency, and is published under an open-access Creative Commons license.