We agree with the commentaries by Scholl and Leslie, and also by Moses, tha
t the meta-analytic findings do not definitively rule out early competence
accounts. But they do make extant versions of such accounts increasingly un
likely. In particular, the meta-analytic findings argue against executive f
unction expression accounts, including the Theory-of-Mind Mechanism/Selecti
on Processor account advocated by Scholl and Leslie. Specifically, Scholl a
nd Leslie articulate two explicit predictions of their account: that task m
anipulations that attenuate inhibitory demands should differentially advant
age older children, and that theory-of-mind developments should occur with
consistent timetables. Both of these specific predictions are clearly contr
adicted, not supported, by the meta-analytic findings.