Associations of calligraphy practice with executive function and transfer: a cross-sectional comparison of...

Calligraphy practice is a complex activity involving visuospatial analysis, fine-motor control, attention, and self-monitoring. This study examined cross-sectional associations among calligraphy-practice experience, executive-function (EF) performance, near- and far-transfer task performance, visuospatial structural processing (VSP), and selfregulation (SR).

We compared 310 professional calligraphers with 310 beginners. Groups were defined using prespecified criteria for training duration, current practice, and professional background; the Calligraphy Proficiency Validation Score (CVS) was used only after grouping as an independent validation measure. After screening, 338 professionals and 312 beginners were eligible. Random subsampling in SPSS 26.0, conducted before outcome analysis and based only on group membership, produced two groups of 310. Adjusted cross-sectional models examined group differences, Practice-EF associations, near- versus fartransfer differences, a bootstrap indirect association through VSP, and a Practice × SR interaction.

Professionals had higher adjusted EF (B = 0.415), near-transfer (B = 0.548), and far-transfer (B = 0.248) scores than beginners. The between-group difference was larger for near than far transfer (Group × transfer type B = 0.300). Practice was positively associated with EF (B = 0.278). VSP showed a significant bootstrap indirect association between Practice and EF, and the Practice × SR term was statistically significant.

The findings describe cross-sectional associations and conditional statistical patterns rather than directional or causal effects. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to establish temporal ordering and causality.