The Effects of Spark Training on Visual-Spatial Working Memory Operation in Children with Mental Retardation

Introduction: Mental retarded children who receive a wide range of health services, representing more than two percent of the population. Mental retardation is associated with significant constraints on mental performance and adaptive behavior as well as perceptual and practical skills. According to the studies, one of the important tools that can affect cognitive abilities, such as memory, is physical activity. Due to the memory problems in children with mental retardation, this study aimed to investigate the effects of spark training on visual-spatial working memory operation in children suffering from mental retardation. Materials and Methods: The Study population included educable mentally retarded students in Urmia. 20 mentally retarded boys of age 9 to 12 years were selected and divided into two groups; experimental and control. Spark programs that includes strengthening activities as well as games and sports for children were performed for 18 sessions on the experimental group. Corsi Blocks test was used to collect the visual-spatial memory data. Results: The results showed a significant difference in the visual-spatial work memory score between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Spark exercises can improve the performance of the visual-spatial work memory of trained mentally retarded children.