The development of the object sequencing imitation task to measure working memory in preschoolers

Abstract

We developed a new object sequencing imitation (OSI) task for preschoolers. We parameterized the task to test the effects of working memory load in 56 3- to 5-year-old children in a museum. We tested individual groups of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds on both “low” (2- to 4-step) and “high” (3- to 5-step) memory load sequences on two variants of the task. The experimenter demonstrated each sequence three times, and children were given 3 trials to imitate the sequence, receiving feedback from the experimenter following each trial. Children were tested on an object that was functionally the same but perceptually different. All preschoolers performed significantly above baseline. We found a significant load effect, showing that performance decreased with increasing steps per sequence. There was no effect of age on performance, showing that leveling of the task across age was successful. Overall, the newly developed OSI task can test age- and load-related changes in working memory in 3- to 5-year-old children. The new OSI task will have utility in longitudinal studies and in studies where multiple trials are needed such as neuroimaging.