Stimming and fidgeting are associated with improved cognitive performance, while suppressing stimming consumes cognitive resources¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (3 entries) · theoretical r3 · q1–q2
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q1 i? Autistic adults self-report that suppressing stimming requires cognitive resources. → Sofia Tancredi 2024 q2 i? In boys with ADHD, increased hyperactivity during working memory testing is associated with improved performance. → Sofia Tancredi 2024 (2) q2 i? In neurotypical adults, stims like doodling improve auditory recall. → Sofia Tancredi 2024 (3)

Evidence¶

Sofia Tancredi 2024¶

Sofia Tancredi, Dor Abrahamson. (2024). Stimming as Thinking: a Critical Reevaluation of Self-Stimulatory Behavior as an Epistemic Resource for Inclusive Education. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09904-y

q1 · i? · theoretical · r3

Self-report evidence the authors cite: "autistic adults self-report that the act of suppressing stimming requires cognitive resources", suggesting suppression itself draws on working memory. No effect size printed.

"Analogous to findings with gesture, autistic adults self-report that the act of suppressing stimming requires cognitive resources (Charlton et al., 2021)."

Sofia Tancredi 2024 (2)¶

Sofia Tancredi, Dor Abrahamson. (2024). Stimming as Thinking: a Critical Reevaluation of Self-Stimulatory Behavior as an Epistemic Resource for Inclusive Education. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09904-y

q2 · i? · theoretical · r3

The authors cite an association, not a manipulated effect: "increased hyperactivity during working memory testing is associated with improved performance" in boys with ADHD. No effect size printed.

"in boys with ADHD, increased hyperactivity during working memory testing is associated with improved performance (Sarver et al., 2015)."

Sofia Tancredi 2024 (3)¶

Sofia Tancredi, Dor Abrahamson. (2024). Stimming as Thinking: a Critical Reevaluation of Self-Stimulatory Behavior as an Epistemic Resource for Inclusive Education. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09904-y

q2 · i? · theoretical · r3

The authors cite a finding that "stims like doodling improve auditory recall" in neurotypical adults, supporting stimming's facilitative rather than deleterious role. No effect size printed.

"In neurotypical adults, stims like doodling improve auditory recall (Andrade, 2010)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Learning Disabilities and Developmental Differences — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Stimming can serve as an interactional and communicative resource in collaborative activity, including in academic tasks — related
• Stimming and fidgeting increase under high cognitive load and sustained task effort, rather than appearing only during low engagement — related
• Gesturing during learning improves retention and reduces cognitive load — related