Mathematical Skills in Ninth-graders: Relationship with visuo-spatial abilities and working memory

In the present study, the relationship between working memory (WM ) capacity, particularly visuo-spatial working memory (VSW M), the ability to mentally rotate three-dimensional objects and mathematical skills was investigated. In Experiment 1, the two VSW M components, viz. static visuo-spatial storage component and dynamic visuo-spatial storage component, were examined separately. The ability to retain gradually increasing square patterns (static VSW M capacity), the ability to retain movement sequences (dynamic VSWM capacity) and the ability to mentally rotate abstract figures were related to mathematical skills (n = 0.44 - 0.57). In Experiment 2, the contribution of other W M components to mathematical skills was examined. The results suggest that performances in the static visuo-spatial task (visual matrix pattern task) and in the mental rotation task are related to a mathematics test score (n = 0.42 - 0.58). Other WM components, viz. the central executive and phonological WM , did not relate to mathematical skills in the present study.