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Bakker M, Torbeyns J, Verschaffel L, De Smedt B. Cognitive characteristics of children with high mathematics achievement before they start formal schooling. Child Dev 2024. [PMID: 39073393 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
This 5-year longitudinal study examined whether high mathematics achievers in primary school had cognitive advantages before entering formal education. High mathematics achievement was defined as performing above Pc 90 in Grades 1 and 3. The predominantly White sample (Mage in preschool: 64 months) included 31 high achievers (12 girls) and 114 average achievers (63 girls). We measured children's early numerical abilities, complex mathematical abilities, and general cognitive abilities in preschool (2017). High mathematics achievers had advantages on most tasks in preschool (ds > 0.62). Number order, numeral recognition, and proportional reasoning were unique predictors of belonging to the high-achieving group in primary school. This study shows that the cognitive advantages of high mathematics achievement are already observed in preschool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merel Bakker
- Centre for Instructional Psychology and Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joke Torbeyns
- Centre for Instructional Psychology and Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven Verschaffel
- Centre for Instructional Psychology and Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert De Smedt
- Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Ruiz C, Kohnen S, Muñez D, Bull R. The development of number line estimation in children at risk of mathematics learning difficulties: A longitudinal study. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 243:105916. [PMID: 38613903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Children with mathematics learning difficulties (MLD) show poorer performance on the number line task, but how performance on this task relates to other mathematical skills is unclear. This study examined the association between performance on the number line task and mathematical skills during the first 2 years of school for children at risk of MLD. Children (N = 100; Mage = 83.63 months) were assessed on four occasions on the number line task and other mathematical skills (math fluency, numerical operations, and mathematical reasoning). Estimation patterns were analyzed based on the representational shift and proportional judgment accounts separately. More consistent longitudinal trends and stronger evidence for differences in mathematical skills based on estimation patterns were found within the representational shift account. Latent growth curve models showed accuracy on the number line task as a predictor of growth in some mathematical skills assessed. We discuss impacts of methodological limitations on the study of estimation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Ruiz
- School of Education, Centre for Research in Numeracy Development and Learning, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Departamento de Neurociencia y Aprendizaje, Universidad Católica del Uruguay, 11600 Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Saskia Kohnen
- School of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Research in Numeracy Development and Learning, Centre for Reading, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, Australian Catholic University
| | - David Muñez
- Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Rebecca Bull
- School of Education, Centre for Research in Numeracy Development and Learning, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Tamm L, McNally KA, Altaye M, Parikh NA. Mathematics abilities associated with adaptive functioning in preschool children born preterm. Child Neuropsychol 2024; 30:315-328. [PMID: 36939102 PMCID: PMC10509309 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2191942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that infants born very preterm (VPT) often demonstrate deficits in mathematical abilities in early childhood which are associated with poorer academic outcomes. Mathematic skills are also critical for other areas of functioning. However, it is not known whether mathematics skills are associated with adaptive functioning in children born preterm. Infants born at ≤31 weeks gestation and full term were recruited at birth and followed over time. At the 36-month corrected age assessment, children were administered the Early Number Concepts subtest of the Differential Abilities Scale, Second Edition, and caregivers completed the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition. After controlling for age, sex, cognitive abilities, and caregiver education, performance on the mathematics measure was uniquely and positively associated with adaptive behavior for preschool children in the VPT group only. Exploratory analyses revealed this association to be specifically related to the Practical and Social composites. Knowledge of concepts of number and quantity were associated with better adaptive functioning, particularly for behaviors related to functioning at home and in the community and play/social functioning, for children born VPT. Although replication is warranted, it would appear that mathematical skills may be an important early intervention target for children born VPT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Tamm
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nehal A. Parikh
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Mishra A, Khan A. [Formula: see text] Domain-general and domain-specific cognitive correlates of developmental dyscalculia: a systematic review of the last two decades' literature. Child Neuropsychol 2023; 29:1179-1229. [PMID: 36440471 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2022.2147914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Developmental dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, influencing the learning of mathematics in developing children. In the last two decades, continuous growth of research has helped in the advancement of the state of knowledge of dyscalculia. This upsurge in the number of studies makes it relevant to conduct a systematic review, covering all the empirical evidence, but there is a dearth of review studies synthesizing findings of the studies in the recent past. Therefore, the current study aims to systematically review studies investigating the underlying cognitive causal factors associated with developmental dyscalculia in the last two decades. To investigate the underlying cognitive factors associated with dyscalculia, two prominent approaches have been used: domain-general and domain-specific. While the domain-general approach argues for the deficit in general cognitive abilities, the domain-specific approach argues for the deficit in core numerical abilities. In the present review, the PRISMA method is followed. Articles were searched using two methods: firstly, through database sources of Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, 1738 abstracts were screened, of which 46 articles met the specific inclusion criteria; and secondly, through recently published systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 29 studies were included. A total of 75 studies, 48 studies from domain-general and 27 studies from domain-specific approaches, have been selected. This review discusses domain-general and domain-specific approaches of developmental dyscalculia, along with specific theories associated with both approaches. Based on the discussed findings, visuospatial working memory and symbolic number processing abilities emerged as the best predictor of math ability in children with dyscalculia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Mishra
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Azizuddin Khan
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
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Chen C, Liu P, Lu S, Li S, Zhang C, Zhou X. Verbal but not visual-spatial working memory contributes to complex arithmetic calculation. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 41:385-399. [PMID: 37416937 DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of working memory to mathematics has been extensively studied. It has been proposed that verbal working memory (VWM) and visual-spatial working memory (VSWM) have distinct contributions, but results have been inconclusive. Here, we hypothesized that VWM and VSWM contribute differentially to separate sub-domains of mathematics. To test this hypothesis, we enrolled 199 primary school students and measured their VWM and VSWM with number/letter/matrix backward span tasks, and tested mathematics performance with simple subtraction, complex subtraction, multi-step calculation and number series completion, while controlling for several aspects of cognition. We found that while letter backward span had a significant contribution to complex subtraction, multi-step computation and number series completion, number backward span only had a significant contribution to multi-step computation, and matrix span had no effect on any math task. These results suggest that only VWM associated with complex mathematics, which might reflect verbal rehearsal. In contrast, VSWM does not appear to associated with mathematics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuzhen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunli Zhang
- Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Ünal ZE, Kartal G, Ulusoy S, Ala AM, Yilmaz MZ, Geary DC. Relative Contributions of g and Basic Domain-Specific Mathematics Skills to Complex Mathematics Competencies. INTELLIGENCE 2023; 101:101797. [PMID: 38053742 PMCID: PMC10695353 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2023.101797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Meta-analytic structural equation modeling was used to estimate the relative contributions of general cognitive ability or g (defined by executive functions, short-term memory, and intelligence) and basic domain-specific mathematical abilities to performance in more complex mathematics domains. The domain-specific abilities included mathematics fluency (e.g., speed of retrieving basic facts), computational skills (i.e., accuracy at solving multi-step arithmetic, algebra, or geometry problems), and word problems (i.e., mathematics problems presented in narrative form). The core analysis included 448 independent samples and 431,344 participants and revealed that g predicted performance in all three mathematics domains. Mathematics fluency contributed to the prediction of computational skills, and both mathematics fluency and computational skills predicted word problem performance, controlling g. The relative contribution of g was consistently larger than basic domain-specific abilities, although the latter may be underestimated. The patterns were similar across younger and older individuals, individuals with and without a disability (e.g., learning disability), concurrent and longitudinal assessments, and family socioeconomic status, and have implications for fostering mathematical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra E. Ünal
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
| | - Gamze Kartal
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
| | - Serra Ulusoy
- Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Bogazici University
| | - Asli M. Ala
- Department of Mathematics Education, Erzincan University
| | - Münibe Z. Yilmaz
- Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology, Texas State University
| | - David C. Geary
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
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What Is the Source of the Correlation Between Reading and Mathematics Achievement? Two Meta-analytic Studies. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10648-023-09717-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Individual differences in mathematical cognition: a Bert's eye view. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Domain-General Cognitive Skills in Children with Mathematical Difficulties and Dyscalculia: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020239. [PMID: 35204002 PMCID: PMC8870543 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mathematical performance implies a series of numerical and mathematical skills (both innate and derived from formal training) as well as certain general cognitive abilities that, if inadequate, can have a cascading effect on mathematics learning. These latter skills were the focus of the present systematic review. Method: The reviewing process was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. We included 46 studies comparing school-aged children’s performance with and without math difficulties in the following cognitive domains: processing speed, phonological awareness, short- and long-term memory, executive functions, and attention. Results: The results showed that some general cognitive domains were compromised in children with mathematical difficulties (i.e., executive functions, attention, and processing speed). Conclusions: These cognitive functions should be evaluated during the diagnostic process in order to better understand the child’s profile and propose individually tailored interventions. However, further studies should investigate the role of skills that have been poorly investigated to date (e.g., long-term memory and phonological awareness).
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