verswijveren-workingmemorycapacity-2017.pdf (972.4 kB)
Working memory capacity limits motor learning when implementing multiple instructions
journal contribution
posted on 2017-08-22, 00:00 authored by T Buszard, D Farrow, Simone Johanna Josefa Maria Verswijveren, M Reid, J Williams, R Polman, F C M Ling, R S W MastersAlthough it is generally accepted that certain practice conditions can place large demands on working memory (WM) when performing and learning a motor skill, the influence that WM capacity has on the acquisition of motor skills remains unsubstantiated. This study examined the role of WM capacity in a motor skill practice context that promoted WM involvement through the provision of explicit instructions. A cohort of 90 children aged 8 to 10 years were assessed on measures of WM capacity and attention. Children who scored in the lowest and highest thirds on the WM tasks were allocated to lower WM capacity (n = 24) and higher WM capacity (n = 24) groups, respectively. The remaining 42 participants did not participate in the motor task. The motor task required children to practice basketball shooting for 240 trials in blocks of 20 shots, with pre- and post-tests occurring before and after the intervention. A retention test was administered 1 week after the post-test. Prior to every practice block, children were provided with five explicit instructions that were specific to the technique of shooting a basketball. Results revealed that the higher WM capacity group displayed consistent improvements from pre- to post-test and through to the retention test, while the opposite effect occurred in the lower WM capacity group. This implies that the explicit instructions had a negative influence on learning by the lower WM capacity children. Results are discussed in relation to strategy selection for dealing with instructions and the role of attention control.
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Journal
Frontiers in PsychologyVolume
8Article number
1350Publisher
Frontiers Research FoundationLocation
Lausanne, SwitzerlandPublisher DOI
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ISSN
1664-1078Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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