Differential features of early childhood motor skill development and working memory processing: evidence from fNIRS
Quanliang Zheng1, Aiping Chi2, Bing Shi2
1School of Physical Education, Xi'an Fanyi University, Xi'an, China.
Insights
Children with higher motor skills show better working memory performance and distinct brain activity patterns. This study links motor development to cognitive functions in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Learning
Background:
- Working memory and motor skills are crucial for early childhood development.
- Understanding the interplay between motor skill development and cognitive functions like working memory is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between motor skill development and working memory processing in preschool children.
- To explore brain activation patterns associated with working memory tasks in relation to motor skill levels.
Main Methods:
- 101 preschool children (4-6 years) were assessed for motor skills (MOBAK scale) and working memory (block task).
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) monitored prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamic signals during memory tasks.
- MATLAB and Homer2 were used to analyze oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentrations.
Main Results:
- Children with high motor skills demonstrated superior accuracy on working memory tasks compared to those with low motor skills.
- Significant differences in oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) levels were observed in the left dorsolateral PFC and Broca's area.
- Higher motor skill groups showed more pronounced brain activation (higher Oxy-Hb) in specific PFC regions during demanding working memory tasks.
Conclusions:
- A strong association exists between motor skill level and working memory capacity in young children.
- Enhanced motor skills correlate with more robust neural activation patterns during working memory challenges.
- Findings provide insights into motor learning and cognitive development in early childhood.
Objective:
The study investigated the differential characteristics associated with motor skill development and working memory processing during early childhood, thereby providing insights for understanding motor learning and cognitive development in young children.
Methods:
In total, 101 preschool children (age: 4-6 years) were recruited for this study. The motor skill development level and the working memory capacity of the children were assessed using the MOBAK Motor Development Assessment Scale and a block task paradigm, respectively. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy brain imaging technology was used to monitor hemodynamic signals in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the children while they completed different memory tasks. MATLAB software and the Homer2 plugin were used to calculate the oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration in relevant brain regions during the tasks.
Results:
(1) The low motor skill group exhibited significantly lower accuracy during the three-memory load condition than during the two-memory load condition. Under both two-memory and three-memory load conditions, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher accuracy than the low motor skill group. (2) Significant differences in the Oxy-Hb concentration were observed in the left dorsolateral PFC (L-DLPFC), and right and left triangular part of the Broca's area (R-PTBA and L-PTBA, respectively) between the two memory difficulty levels for the high motor skill group. The Oxy-Hb concentration was significantly higher during the three-memory load condition than during the two-memory load condition. Under the two-memory load condition, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher Oxy-Hb concentration in the L-DLPFC and L-PTBA regions than in the low motor skill group. Under the three-memory load condition, the high motor skill group exhibited significantly higher Oxy-Hb concentration in the L-DLPFC, R-PTBA, and L-PTBA regions than the low motor skill group.
Conclusion:
A close association was observed between the motor skill levels and working memory in young children, with higher motor skill levels being associated with more pronounced brain activation patterns during working memory tasks.
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