Dr. Pope-Caldwell alongside other authors recently published, “ Development of Elective Flexibility and Related Cognitive Functions Across Three Cultures” where they tested 325 German, BaYaka, and Bandongo participants aged 4–81 on the Bandit Jars task, a four-armed bandit task that measures elective flexibility (choosing when to switch strategies). They also measured inhibition, short-term memory, and responsive flexibility. Interviews with 62 adults described how predictable, variable, and harsh participants' daily lives were, in each community.
Pope-Caldwell, S., E. Felsche, A. Dzabatou, et al. 2027. “ Development of Elective Flexibility and Related Cognitive Functions Across Three Cultures.” Developmental Science 30, no. 1: e70299. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.70299
Read more about the paper here!
November 2026
