Spatial working memory is enhanced for movement experts in traditional and embodied tasks

ABSTRACT

Movement experts tend to outperform non-experts on some tasks of spatial ability, suggesting that movement experts possess enhanced spatial-cognitive abilities, which may be developed over years of practice. In the current study, movement experts (dancers and athletes) and non-experts completed one verbal working memory task and two spatial working memory tasks—a traditional Corsi block-tapping task and a new full-bodied version of the Corsi task, nicknamed the “Twister Task.” Movement experts outperformed non-experts on both the Corsi and Twister tasks but not on the verbal task, suggesting that movement experience may relate to spatial working memory specifically. Additionally, the Twister task significantly correlated with the traditional Corsi task, providing validation for a new measure of spatial working memory.

KEYWORDS:

• spatial working memory
• movement experts
• Corsi task

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Roman Taraban for his guidance and mentorship through the completion of this study and Drs. Sarah Creem-Regehr and Jeanine Stefanucci for their helpful comments throughout the writing of this manuscript. I would also like to thank Ballet Lubbock pre-professional school for allowing me to use facilities and recruit from its students and the Dr. Sarah Kulkofsky scholarship for funding the work.