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Volume 13
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10.3390/sports13110396
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Article

Enhancing Visuospatial Working Memory and Motor Skills Through School-Based Coordination Training

by
Pasqualina Forte
1,2,
Elisa Pugliese
1,2,
Giovanna Aquino
3,
Carmela Matrisciano
1,4,
Fabio Carlevaro
5,
Francesca Magno
6,
Daniele Magistro
7 and
Cristiana D’Anna
1,*
1
Department of Education and Sports Sciences, Pegaso University, 80143 Napoli, Italy
2
Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
3
Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
4
Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
5
Asti Higher Studies University Pole, Uni-Astiss, 14100 Asti, Italy
6
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
7
School of Health Science, Faculty of Environmental & Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sports 2025, 13(11), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110396
Submission received: 27 August 2025 / Revised: 28 September 2025 / Accepted: 23 October 2025 / Published: 6 November 2025
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Abstract

The school-age period is a crucial time for the integrated development of cognitive and motor functions. Literature highlights that physical activity enhances executive functions, including visuospatial working memory (VSWM). In light of this evidence, this study investigated the effects of a school-based coordinative motor intervention on VSWM and gross motor skills in primary school children. An experimental research trial was conducted involving 184 children aged 9–10 years (mean age = 9.5 years, SD = 0.50 years), with 51.1% girls, divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 110), and a control group (CG; n = 74). Randomisation was performed at the class level via sealed envelope extraction by an independent researcher, ensuring allocation concealment. Outcome assessors were blinded to group assignment. VMWM was assessed using BVS-Corsi-2, and gross motor skills were evaluated via the TGMD-3. The EG showed significant improvements in VSWM (Corsi Forward: p < 0.001, d = 1.12; Corsi Backward: p < 0.001, d = 1.40) and gross motor skills, including Total Gross Motor: p < 0.001, d = 1.58, as well as in locomotion (p < 0.001, d = 2.11) and ball skills score (p < 0.001, d = 1.34). These findings strongly endorse incorporating cognitively demanding physical activities into standard school programmes to support children’s overall development and demonstrate the practicality of implementing such programmes within existing educational settings.
Keywords: visuospatial working memory; executive functions; motor-cognitive integration; motor coordination; school intervention; physical activity; physical education curriculum visuospatial working memory; executive functions; motor-cognitive integration; motor coordination; school intervention; physical activity; physical education curriculum

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MDPI and ACS Style

Forte, P.; Pugliese, E.; Aquino, G.; Matrisciano, C.; Carlevaro, F.; Magno, F.; Magistro, D.; D’Anna, C. Enhancing Visuospatial Working Memory and Motor Skills Through School-Based Coordination Training. Sports 2025, 13, 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110396

AMA Style

Forte P, Pugliese E, Aquino G, Matrisciano C, Carlevaro F, Magno F, Magistro D, D’Anna C. Enhancing Visuospatial Working Memory and Motor Skills Through School-Based Coordination Training. Sports. 2025; 13(11):396. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110396

Chicago/Turabian Style

Forte, Pasqualina, Elisa Pugliese, Giovanna Aquino, Carmela Matrisciano, Fabio Carlevaro, Francesca Magno, Daniele Magistro, and Cristiana D’Anna. 2025. "Enhancing Visuospatial Working Memory and Motor Skills Through School-Based Coordination Training" Sports 13, no. 11: 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110396

APA Style

Forte, P., Pugliese, E., Aquino, G., Matrisciano, C., Carlevaro, F., Magno, F., Magistro, D., & D’Anna, C. (2025). Enhancing Visuospatial Working Memory and Motor Skills Through School-Based Coordination Training. Sports, 13(11), 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110396

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