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Drawing a dog: The role of working memory and executive function
Sabrina Panesi1, Sergio Morra1
1Department of Education (DISFOR), Università di Genova, 16128 Genova, Italy.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|July 26, 2016
Summary
Preschoolers
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Young children often adapt human figure drawing schemes for animals.
- This adaptation represents an early form of drawing flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate preschoolers' ability to draw a dog distinct from a human figure.
- To examine the influence of working memory capacity and executive function on this ability.
Main Methods:
- 123 children (36-73 months) drew a person and a dog.
- Dog drawings were scored for features differentiating them from human figures.
- Regression analyses assessed the predictive roles of working memory and executive function.
Main Results:
- Working memory capacity and executive function significantly predicted the development of dog drawings.
- Scores for dog drawings correlated with working memory and executive function, independent of age and motor skills.
- The Goodenough's Draw-a-Man test was used to measure drawing ability.
Conclusions:
- Working memory capacity and executive function are crucial for developing drawing flexibility in early childhood.
- These findings highlight the importance of executive functions and working memory in cognitive development and creative expression.
Keywords:
Children’s drawingDrawing flexibilityExecutive functionNeo-Piagetian modelsPreschoolersWorking memory capacityMore Related Videos
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