Distractibility is the propensity to behaviorally react to irrelevant information in a world flooded with sensory stimulation. Children are more distractible the younger they are. The precise contribution of attentional and motor components to distractibility and their developmental trajectories have not been characterized yet. We used a new behavioral paradigm to identify the developmental dynamics of components contributing to distractibility in a large cohort of participants (N=352; age range: 6-25). We assessed the specific developmental trajectories of voluntary attention and distraction, as well as impulsivity and motor control. Our results reveal that each of these components present distinct maturational timelines. These findings show that in young children, increased distractibility is mostly the result of reduced sustained attention capacities and enhanced distraction, while in teenagers, it is the result of decreased motor control and increased impulsivity.

Why are children so distractible? Development of attentional capacities and phasic arousal from childhood to adulthood.