The effect of education based on developmental physical education on working memory of elementary school students

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of education based on growth physical education on working memory of elementary school students. 60 male students from Gorgan city were randomly assigned into two groups (experimental and control) in a pretest-posttest research attempt. Working memory test was administered among the participants before and after three months of training in physical education from both groups. Developmental/physical education program was designed as games whose aim was to enhance perceptual-motor, physical, and cognitive ability of the participants. The working memory test of Korando was used to collect data. The obtained data was analyzed using covariance analysis (p≤0.05). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the scores of working memory among the two groups after controlling for pretest levels, so that the scores of posttest in experimental group was significantly higher than the control group. In general, it can be argued that the standard plans of growth physical education led to increase in cognitive abilities of students, and it is suggested that teachers of physical education in all levels of education use standard programs in order to promote the mobility and cognitive abilities of students.