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Fine Motor and Cognitive Skills in Down Syndrome

fine motor cognitive skills down syndrome

The International Journal of Disability, Development and Education has published research on 12 adolescents with Down syndrome.  Each individual participated in the Corsi-Block tapping test (e.g., visual working memory), the Auditory Memory span test (e.g., verbal working memory) and the Tower of London test (e.g., cognitive planning), and motor control, measured by the Purdue Pegboard (e.g., fine motor control).  The results indicated the following:

  • individuals with Down syndrome who had better performance in fine manual dexterity had better performance in cognitive planning and verbal working memory abilities.

The researchers suggest that individuals with Down syndrome will obtain benefits in cognitive control by participating in motor interventions.

Reference:  Chih-Chia (JJ) Chen, Shannon D.R. Ringenbach, Andrew Albert, Keith Semken . Fine Motor Control is Related to Cognitive Control in Adolescents with Down Syndrome.  International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. Vol. 61, Iss. 1, 2014

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