Neural Dissociations between Magnitude Processing of Fractions and Decimals

Understanding and using symbolic fractions in mathematics is critical for access to advanced STEM concepts. However, children and adults consistently struggle with fractions. Here, we take a novel perspective on symbolic fractions, considering them within the framework of relational structures in cognitive psychology, such as those studied in analogy research. We tested the hypothesis that relational reasoning ability is important for reasoning about fractions by examining the relation between scores on a domain-general test of relational reasoning (TORR Jr.) and a test of fraction knowledge consisting of various types of fraction problems in 201 second grade and 150 fifth grade students. We found that relational reasoning was a significant predictor of fractions knowledge, even when controlling for non-verbal IQ and fractions magnitude processing for both grades. The effects of relational reasoning also remained significant when controlling for overall math knowledge and skill for second graders, but was attenuated for fifth graders. These findings suggest that this important subdomain of mathematical cognition is integrally tied to relational reasoning and opens the possibility that instruction targeting relational reasoning may prove to be a viable avenue for improving children’s fractions skills.

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Actions, Words, and Numbers

Current Directions in Psychological Science ◽

10.1111/j.1467-8721.2008.00597.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 313-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Michael Andres ◽

Etienne Olivier ◽

Arnaud Badets

Keyword(s):

Motor System ◽

Semantic Knowledge ◽

Functional Brain Imaging ◽

Adult Brain ◽

Future Research ◽

Number Representation ◽

Motor Circuits ◽

Magnitude Processing ◽

Finger Counting ◽

Report Data

Recent findings in neuroscience challenge the view that the motor system is exclusively dedicated to the control of actions, and it has been suggested that it may contribute critically to conceptual processes such as those involved in language and number representation. The aim of this review is to address this issue by illustrating some interactions between the motor system and the processing of words and numbers. First, we detail functional brain imaging studies suggesting that motor circuits may be recruited to represent the meaning of action-related words. Second, we summarize a series of experiments demonstrating some interference between the size of grip used to grasp objects and the magnitude processing of words or numbers. Third, we report data suggestive of a common representation of numbers and finger movements in the adult brain, a possible trace of the finger-counting strategies used in childhood. Altogether, these studies indicate that the motor system interacts with several aspects of word and number representations. Future research should determine whether these findings reflect a causal role of the motor system in the organization of semantic knowledge.

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The effects of age on reward magnitude processing in the monetary incentive delay task

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116368 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 207 ◽

pp. 116368 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Isha Dhingra ◽

Sheng Zhang ◽

Simon Zhornitsky ◽

Thang M. Le ◽

Wuyi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reward Magnitude ◽

Monetary Incentive ◽

Magnitude Processing ◽

Delay Task ◽

Monetary Incentive Delay Task ◽

Monetary Incentive Delay

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Developmental trajectories of children’s symbolic numerical magnitude processing skills and associated cognitive competencies

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.jecp.2017.08.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 166 ◽

pp. 232-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kiran Vanbinst ◽

Eva Ceulemans ◽

Lien Peters ◽

Pol Ghesquière ◽

Bert De Smedt

Keyword(s):

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Numerical Magnitude ◽

Magnitude Processing ◽

Cognitive Competencies

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Magnitude processing in populations with spina-bifida: The role of visuospatial and working memory processes

Research in Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103655 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 102 ◽

pp. 103655

Author(s):

Lucie Attout ◽

Marie-Pascale Noël ◽

Laurence Rousselle

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Spina Bifida ◽

Memory Processes ◽

Magnitude Processing

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Developmental Dyscalculia in Adults: Beyond Numerical Magnitude Impairment

Journal of Learning Disabilities ◽

10.1177/0022219417732338 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 600-611 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alice De Visscher ◽

Marie-Pascale Noël ◽

Mauro Pesenti ◽

Valérie Dormal

Keyword(s):

Mental Representation ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Numerical Magnitude ◽

Developmental Dyscalculia ◽

Common System ◽

The Core ◽

Magnitude Processing ◽

Core Deficit ◽

Face Categorization ◽

Numerical Magnitudes

Numerous studies have tried to identify the core deficit of developmental dyscalculia (DD), mainly by assessing a possible deficit of the mental representation of numerical magnitude. Research in healthy adults has shown that numerosity, duration, and space share a partly common system of magnitude processing and representation. However, in DD, numerosity processing has until now received much more attention than the processing of other non-numerical magnitudes. To assess whether or not the processing of non-numerical magnitudes is impaired in DD, the performance of 15 adults with DD and 15 control participants was compared in four categorization tasks using numerosities, lengths, durations, and faces (as non-magnitude-based control stimuli). Results showed that adults with DD were impaired in processing numerosity and duration, while their performance in length and face categorization did not differ from controls’ performance. Our findings support the idea of a nonsymbolic magnitude deficit in DD, affecting numerosity and duration processing but not length processing.

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