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<p>Short-term memory capacity for movements (SMCM) plays a pivotal role in motor learning; however, methods to enhance it remain underexplored. This study investigated whether an adapted training approach—originally developed to improve imitation ability—could enhance SMCM in typically developing children and adolescents. Study 1 examined the relationship between imitation ability and SMCM across participants in early childhood, childhood, preadolescence, adolescence, and early adulthood. Results showed that imitation ability positively predicted SMCM across all age groups. Building on this association, Study 2 tested whether a 4-week training programme combining discrete-trial instruction and contingent imitation—adapted from a validated intervention designed to improve imitation ability in children with autism spectrum disorder—could improve SMCM among participants ranging from early childhood to adolescence. Significant improvements were observed in both imitation ability and SMCM across all age groups, with preadolescence showing the greatest numerical gains in SMCM. These findings confirm the developmental stability of the imitation-SMCM link and demonstrate that an imitation-targeted training approach can effectively enhance motor memory in children and adolescents.</p>

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Improving short-term memory capacity for movements through an imitation-targeted training approach in children and adolescents

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月17日

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  • Tingting Xie,
  • Lijuan Wang

摘要

Short-term memory capacity for movements (SMCM) plays a pivotal role in motor learning; however, methods to enhance it remain underexplored. This study investigated whether an adapted training approach—originally developed to improve imitation ability—could enhance SMCM in typically developing children and adolescents. Study 1 examined the relationship between imitation ability and SMCM across participants in early childhood, childhood, preadolescence, adolescence, and early adulthood. Results showed that imitation ability positively predicted SMCM across all age groups. Building on this association, Study 2 tested whether a 4-week training programme combining discrete-trial instruction and contingent imitation—adapted from a validated intervention designed to improve imitation ability in children with autism spectrum disorder—could improve SMCM among participants ranging from early childhood to adolescence. Significant improvements were observed in both imitation ability and SMCM across all age groups, with preadolescence showing the greatest numerical gains in SMCM. These findings confirm the developmental stability of the imitation-SMCM link and demonstrate that an imitation-targeted training approach can effectively enhance motor memory in children and adolescents.