The effect of rhythmic movement exercises on the function of digit symbol memory in children with special learning disabilities

The purpose of this research was the investigation of the relationships between the effects of rhythmic movement exercises on the function of digit symbol memory in children with special learning disabilities. All subjects of this study were selected from Mashhad primary school students that because of problems in their learning processes were under special educating system of "education of exceptional children organization". Before beginning of this study, all mentioned subjects were evaluated using the standard tests to determine exact special learning deficits (N=58), after which they were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. Both groups were tested using Wechsler digit symbol memory (before starting the exercises). The experimental group was experienced a 4 month period of rhythmic movement exercises (3 session every week, one and half hour per session, total sessions 48) with application of a maximum 60% of heart beat. The control group was under usual living rhythms. At the end of the experimental period both groups were tested by Wechsler digit symbol memory criteria. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between rhythmic movement exercise training and digit symbol memory improvement in the students suffering from special learning disorders. Movement therapy is an accepted method for some forms of mental disorders that may improve the interactions between touch and proprioceptive systems of the nervous system and cortical sensory and motor areas of the brain.