Disentangling the Mechanisms of Symbolic Number Processing in Adults' Mathematics and Arithmetic Achievement.

Disentangling the Mechanisms of Symbolic Number Processing in Adults' Mathematics and Arithmetic Achievement.
Cogn Sci. 2019 Jan;43(1):
Authors: Orrantia J, Muñez D, Matilla L, Sanchez R, San Romualdo S, Verschaffel L
Abstract
A growing body of research has shown that symbolic number processing relates to individual differences in mathematics. However, it remains unclear which mechanisms of symbolic number processing are crucial-accessing underlying magnitude representation of symbols (i.e., symbol-magnitude associations), processing relative order of symbols (i.e., symbol-symbol associations), or processing of symbols per se. To address this question, in this study adult participants performed a dots-number word matching task-thought to be a measure of symbol-magnitude associations (numerical magnitude processing)-a numeral-ordering task that focuses on symbol-symbol associations (numerical order processing), and a digit-number word matching task targeting symbolic processing per se. Results showed that both numerical magnitude and order processing were uniquely related to arithmetic achievement, beyond the effects of domain-general factors (intellectual ability, working memory, inhibitory control, and non-numerical ordering). Importantly, results were different when a general measure of mathematics achievement was considered. Those mechanisms of symbolic number processing did not contribute to math achievement. Furthermore, a path...

Source: Cognitive Science - January 1, 2019 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Orrantia J, Muñez D, Matilla L, Sanchez R, San Romualdo S, Verschaffel L Tags: Cogn Sci Source Type: research