Working memory capacity for movements in children and adolescents

Working memory for movements is responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of limb movements. This study explored and compared the working memory capacity for movements (WMCM) in early childhood (5–6 years), childhood (8–9 years), preadolescence (10–12 years), adolescence (14–17 years), and early adulthood (20–22 years) groups. The results showed that the groups with the greatest WMCM in descending order were adolescence, preadolescence, childhood, and early childhood; all differences were statistically significant. No significant differences in WMCM were observed between adolescence and early adulthood. Therefore, WMCM increased continuously from early childhood to adolescence, with childhood and preadolescence being periods of rapid growth and adolescence being the plateau period when early adult levels are reached. These findings help to depict the developmental trajectory of WMCM and provide theoretical and practical guidance for movement-related research.