Motor skills and working memory capacity in preadolescents born very preterm.
Sebastian Ludyga, Markus Gerber, Martina Studer and 1 others
PMID 41126719WHAT IT FOUND
Children born very preterm had lower working memory capacity than term-born peers.
This link was fully explained by their poorer motor skills, specifically balance and manual dexterity. Brain activity measures did not mediate this relationship, suggesting motor deficits are a key pathway to cognitive difficulties.
Key findings
01Children born very preterm scored lower on manual dexterity and balance tasks compared to term-born controls.
02The association between very preterm birth and lower visuospatial working memory capacity was fully mediated by motor skills.
03Neural activity related to working memory maintenance (CDA) did not mediate the link between motor skills and behavioural working memory performance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that improving motor skills will improve working memory. The direction of effects in the mediation model cannot be verified from a single time point. Different recruitment strategies for preterm and term-born groups may have introduced selection bias. Neurodevelopmental disorders were not controlled for in the sample, which could influence both motor and cognitive outcomes.
Declared interests
None declared. Funded by Opo Foundation and Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating motor deficits will automatically improve working memory capacity. This is a cross-sectional study showing a statistical association, not a trial proving that motor interventions cause cognitive gains.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →