Is Narrative Comprehension Embodied? An Exploratory Study on the Relationship Between Narrative and Motor Skills in...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Linguistics

Background:

• Embodied Cognition theory links early motor skills with cognitive functions.
• Cognitive skills are crucial for narrative comprehension, supporting mental representation of story meaning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if motor skills directly impact preschool children's narrative comprehension.
• To determine if cognitive skills mediate the relationship between motor skills and narrative comprehension.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-four children aged 3-6 years participated.
• Standardized assessments measured motor skills, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and theory of mind.
• Structural equation modeling analyzed direct and indirect effects.

Main Results:

• Motor skills significantly influenced cognitive abilities.
• Cognitive abilities, in turn, significantly mediated the effect on narrative comprehension.
• No direct link was found between motor skills and narrative comprehension independent of cognitive skills.

Conclusions:

• Motor skills contribute to narrative comprehension indirectly through enhanced cognitive functions.
• Findings reveal the intricate developmental interplay between motor, cognitive, and language skills in early childhood.
• This research offers insights into developmental mechanisms supporting language acquisition and understanding.