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Hans-christoph Nuerk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Language influences on numerical development—Inversion effects on multi-digit Number Processing
Frontiers in Psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, Silvia Pixner, Liane Kaufmann, Julia Bahnmueller, Anne Mann, Hans-christoph Nuerk, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:In early numerical development, children have to become familiar with the Arabic Number system and its place-value structure. The present review summarizes and discusses evidence for language influences on the acquisition of the highly transparent structuring principles of digital-Arabic digits by means of its moderation through the transparency of the respective language’s Number word system. In particular, the so-called inversion property (i.e., 24 named as ‘four and twenty’ instead of ‘twenty four’) was found to influence Number Processing in children not only in verbal but also in non-verbal numerical tasks. Additionally, there is first evidence suggesting that inversion-related difficulties may influence numerical Processing longitudinally. Generally, language-specific influences in children’s numerical development are most pronounced for multi-digit Numbers. Yet, there is currently only one study on three-digit Number Processing for German-speaking children. A direct comparison of additional new data from Italian-speaking children further corroborates the Whorfian claim that language impacts on all types of cognitive (Number) Processing as inversion-related interference was found most pronounced for German-speaking children. In sum, we conclude that numerical development may not be language-specific but seems to be moderated by language.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing. To evaluate influences of object-based neglect in numerical cognition, a group of neglect patients and two control groups had to compare two-digit Numbers to an internally represented standard. Conceptualizing two-digit Numbers as objects of which the left part (i.e., the tens digit should be specifically neglected) we were able to evaluate object-based neglect for Number magnitude Processing. Object-based neglect was indicated by a larger unit-decade compatibility effect actually reflecting impaired Processing of the leftward tens digits. Additionally, faster Processing of within- as compared to between-decade items provided further evidence suggesting particular difficulties in integrating tens and units into the place-value structure of the Arabic Number system. In summary, the present study indicates that, in addition to the spatial representation of Number magnitude, also the Processing of place-value information of multi-digit Numbers seems specifically impaired in neglect patients.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and brain functions : BBF, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing.
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On the development of Arabic three-digit Number Processing in primary school children.
Journal of experimental child psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Anne Mann, K. Orbinian Moeller, Silvia Pixner, Liane Kaufmann, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:The development of two-digit Number Processing in children, and in particular the influence of place-value understanding, has recently received increasing research interest. However, place-value influences leading to decomposed Processing have not yet been investigated for multi-digit Numbers beyond the two-digit Number range in children. Therefore, we evaluated the separate influences of hundreds, tens, and units on three-digit Number Processing by means of the hundred distance effect, the decade-hundred compatibility effect, and the unit-hundred compatibility effect in a longitudinal design from Grade 2 to Grade 4. In a Number magnitude comparison task, a strong hundred distance effect indicated that the magnitudes of the hundreds digits were predominantly processed. We also observed indexes of decomposed parallel Processing of hundreds and units digits but not of hundreds and tens digits. Regarding the developmental trajectories, the hundred distance effect and the unit-hundred compatibility effect showed a reliable trend to increase with grade level. However, both the significance and the increase with grade level of decomposed parallel Processing were observed to be less consistent than expected. The latter is discussed in terms of different Processing strategies as well as specificities differentiating between two- and three-digit Numbers. Taken together, these are the first data showing decomposed Processing of three-digit Numbers in children. Yet, it must be noted that the results also indicate that findings from two-digit Number Processing cannot simply be generalized to the three-digit Number range.
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Multi-Digit Number Processing
2011Co-Authors: Hans-christoph Nuerk, Klaus Willmes, Martin H. FischerAbstract:The present topical issue on ‘‘multi-digit Number Processing’’ has been compiled with a threefold aim in mind. First, for researchers who are not yet familiar with the topic, it provides a good opportunity for an introduction to this particular field. To assist with this, the topical issue contains a review article providing an overview of the field followed by empirical papers on current research and opinion pieces that discuss issues currently hotly debated in the field. Second, a topical issue does, of course, provide the opportunity to focus on and to integrate research on a particular topic, in this case multi-digit Number Processing. Various papers on different aspects of multi-digit Number
K. Orbinian Moeller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cognitive control in Number Processing: new evidence from task switching
2020Co-Authors: A Schliephake, Julia Bahnmueller, K Willmes, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:© 2020, The Author(s). Recently, it was demonstrated that even basic numerical cognition such as the Processing of Number magnitude is under cognitive control. However, evidence so far primarily came from adaptation effects to stimulus characteristics (e.g., relative frequency of specific stimulus categories). Expanding this approach, we evaluated a possible influence of more active exertion of cognitive control on basic Number Processing in task switching. Participants had to perform a magnitude comparison task while we manipulated the order of compatible and incompatible input–output modalities (i.e., auditory/vocal input–visual/manual output vs. auditory/visual input–manual/vocal output, respectively) on the trial level, differentiating repeat vs. switch trials. Results indicated that the numerical distance effect but not the problem size effect was increased after a switch in input–output modality compatibility. In sum, these findings substantiate that basic Number Processing is under cognitive control by providing first evidence that it is influenced by the active exertion of cognitive control as required in task switching
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The power to adapt: How sense of power predicts Number Processing.
Canadian journal of experimental psychology = Revue canadienne de psychologie experimentale, 2019Co-Authors: Annika Scholl, Stefan Huber, Johannes Bloechle, Kai Sassenberg, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:When people solve numerical tasks, they are able to adapt their responses to characteristics of the task. This suggests that Number Processing is under cognitive control. Yet, such prior research on cognitive control in numerical cognition largely focused on the role of task stimuli-neglecting the role of predictors that are not directly linked to cognitive and numerical capacities. Do people who sense control in other domains (such as their interpersonal relationships) employ cognitive control differently when Processing Numbers? As a first step to examine this, we investigated how a person's sense of power (as a predictor known to facilitate cognitive control in other domains) predicts Number Processing. People sensing relatively high (rather than low) power in their everyday lives usually exert more cognitive control, which enables them to better adapt to a given task setting. Building upon this, we predicted that sense of power facilitates Number Processing-but, only when the task setting provides valid decision-relevant information that people can adapt to. As indicator of adaptation to the task setting, we assessed the unit-decade compatibility effect. Indeed, sense of power predicted a smaller compatibility effect (better adaptation) when valid information was available; in contrast, sense of power tended to predict a larger compatibility effect when only ambiguous information was available. These findings highlight that cognitive control in Number Processing not only depends on stimuli, but can also depend on broader individual factors, such as people's sensed control in interpersonal situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Direct evidence for linguistic influences in two-digit Number Processing
Journal of experimental psychology. Learning memory and cognition, 2018Co-Authors: Julia Bahnmueller, Silke M. Göbel, Carolin Annette Maier, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:Language-specific differences in Number words influence Number Processing even in nonverbal numerical tasks. For instance, the unit-decade compatibility effect in two-digit Number magnitude comparison (compatible Number pairs [42_57: 4 2]) was shown to be influenced by the inversion of Number words (e.g., in German the Number word for 42 is zweiundvierzig [literally: two-and-forty]). In two studies, we used articulatory suppression to investigate whether previously observed cross-linguistic differences in two-digit Number Processing are indeed driven by differences in Number word formation. In a two-digit Number comparison task, German- and English-speaking participants had to identify the larger of two Numbers presented in Arabic digits. In Study 1, participants performed the same task twice, with and without articulatory suppression. In Study 2, the percentage of within-decade filler items (36_39) was manipulated additionally. As expected, in both studies between-groups differences in the compatibility effect disappeared under articulatory suppression irrespective of the percentage of fillers included. Furthermore, paralleling results of previous studies including 33% or less filler items, we found that the compatibility effect was larger in German compared with English speakers in the 20% filler condition. However, this pattern was reversed in the 50% filler condition in both studies. Thus, results provide first direct evidence for influences of verbal Number word formation on symbolic Number Processing. Moreover, these new findings suggest that linguistic influences and those of cognitive control processes associated with characteristics of the stimulus set interact in symbolic Number Processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Language influences on numerical development—Inversion effects on multi-digit Number Processing
Frontiers in Psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, Silvia Pixner, Liane Kaufmann, Julia Bahnmueller, Anne Mann, Hans-christoph Nuerk, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:In early numerical development, children have to become familiar with the Arabic Number system and its place-value structure. The present review summarizes and discusses evidence for language influences on the acquisition of the highly transparent structuring principles of digital-Arabic digits by means of its moderation through the transparency of the respective language’s Number word system. In particular, the so-called inversion property (i.e., 24 named as ‘four and twenty’ instead of ‘twenty four’) was found to influence Number Processing in children not only in verbal but also in non-verbal numerical tasks. Additionally, there is first evidence suggesting that inversion-related difficulties may influence numerical Processing longitudinally. Generally, language-specific influences in children’s numerical development are most pronounced for multi-digit Numbers. Yet, there is currently only one study on three-digit Number Processing for German-speaking children. A direct comparison of additional new data from Italian-speaking children further corroborates the Whorfian claim that language impacts on all types of cognitive (Number) Processing as inversion-related interference was found most pronounced for German-speaking children. In sum, we conclude that numerical development may not be language-specific but seems to be moderated by language.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing. To evaluate influences of object-based neglect in numerical cognition, a group of neglect patients and two control groups had to compare two-digit Numbers to an internally represented standard. Conceptualizing two-digit Numbers as objects of which the left part (i.e., the tens digit should be specifically neglected) we were able to evaluate object-based neglect for Number magnitude Processing. Object-based neglect was indicated by a larger unit-decade compatibility effect actually reflecting impaired Processing of the leftward tens digits. Additionally, faster Processing of within- as compared to between-decade items provided further evidence suggesting particular difficulties in integrating tens and units into the place-value structure of the Arabic Number system. In summary, the present study indicates that, in addition to the spatial representation of Number magnitude, also the Processing of place-value information of multi-digit Numbers seems specifically impaired in neglect patients.
Daniel Ansari - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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common and distinct brain regions in both parietal and frontal cortex support symbolic and nonsymbolic Number Processing in humans a functional neuroimaging meta analysis
NeuroImage, 2017Co-Authors: Moriah H Sokolowski, Wim Fias, Ahmad Mousa, Daniel AnsariAbstract:In recent years, there has been substantial growth in neuroimaging studies investigating neural correlates of symbolic (e.g. Arabic numerals) and non-symbolic (e.g. dot arrays) Number Processing. At present it remains contested whether Number is represented abstractly, or if Number representations in the brain are format-dependent. In order to quantitatively evaluate the available neuroimaging evidence, we used activation likelihood estimation (ALE) to conduct quantitative meta-analyses of the results reported in 57 neuroimaging papers. Consistent with the existence of an abstract representation of Number in the brain, conjunction analyses revealed overlapping activation for symbolic and nonsymbolic Numbers in frontal and parietal lobes. Consistent with the notion of format-dependent activation, contrast analyses demonstrated anatomically distinct fronto-parietal activation for symbolic and non-symbolic Processing. Therefore, symbolic and non-symbolic Numbers are subserved by format-dependent and abstract neural systems. Moreover, the present results suggest that regions across the parietal cortex, not just the intraparietal sulcus, are engaged in both symbolic and non-symbolic Number Processing, challenging the notion that the intraparietal sulcus is the key region for Number Processing. Additionally, our analyses indicate that regions in the frontal cortex subserve magnitude representations rather than non-numerical cognitive processes associated with Number tasks, thereby highlighting the importance of considering both frontal and parietal regions as important for Number Processing.
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What basic Number Processing measures in kindergarten explain unique variability in first-grade arithmetic proficiency?
Journal of experimental child psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Dimona Bartelet, Anniek Vaessen, Leo Blomert, Daniel AnsariAbstract:Abstract Relations between children’s mathematics achievement and their basic Number Processing skills have been reported in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Yet, some key questions are currently unresolved, including which kindergarten skills uniquely predict children’s arithmetic fluency during the first year of formal schooling and the degree to which predictors are contingent on children’s level of arithmetic proficiency. The current study assessed kindergarteners’ non-symbolic and symbolic Number Processing efficiency. In addition, the contribution of children’s underlying magnitude representations to differences in arithmetic achievement was assessed. Subsequently, in January of Grade 1, their arithmetic proficiency was assessed. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that children’s efficiency to compare digits, count, and estimate numerosities uniquely predicted arithmetic differences above and beyond the non-numerical factors included. Moreover, quantile regression analysis indicated that symbolic Number Processing efficiency was consistently a significant predictor of arithmetic achievement scores regardless of children’s level of arithmetic proficiency, whereas their non-symbolic Number Processing efficiency was not. Finally, none of the task-specific effects indexing children’s representational precision was significantly associated with arithmetic fluency. The implications of the results are 2-fold. First, the findings indicate that children’s efficiency to process symbols is important for the development of their arithmetic fluency in Grade 1 above and beyond the influence of non-numerical factors. Second, the impact of children’s non-symbolic Number Processing skills does not depend on their arithmetic achievement level given that they are selected from a nonclinical population.
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The Numerate Brain: Recent Findings and Theoretical Reviews on the Neurocognitive Foundations of Number Processing
Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2012Co-Authors: Filip Van Opstal, Seppe Santens, Daniel AnsariAbstract:Numbers are omnipresent in our daily life. They are used to denote the date or time, the value of products, or to indicate the speed at which you drive your car. Indeed, Numbers are part of our everyday life and as adults we use and manipulate them seemingly without any effort. But how do we do this? How is the meaning of Numbers acquired and represented? And what brain mechanisms subserve the representation of Number and mental operations involving Numbers that guide our actions? The burgeoning field of “Numerical Cognition” seeks to provide answers to these kinds of questions. Researchers in this field seek to understand the representation and the neural correlates of basic numerical processes and how these basic processes relate to higher-level mental operations of these foundational representations, such as mental arithmetic. It should be clear that the relation between the most elementary numerical skill, such as the extraction of the numerosity of a set of elements, and solving mathematical equations is quite complex and rather difficult to investigate. In fact, the many faces of Numbers further complicate the matter. A Number is a highly abstract symbol that can represent different things. It can symbolize a magnitude (cardinality; “4” could indicate the Number of children you have) or the rank (ordinality; “4” could also refer to your youngest child when placed in chronological order). The same Number can also be written in many forms: 4 is equal to IV, to “Four,” and to ••••. Furthermore, in mathematics, Numbers can also be positive or negative, small or large, natural, or decimal Numbers. Numerical cognition research aims at understanding how these different conceptions of Numbers relate to each other and how we develop an understanding their meaning. Over the last few decades these issues have been addressed by studying numerical skills in different animal species, human infants, and adults. However, the result of these years of focused research has not provided us with definite answers. Although some models of numerical cognition have dominated the research for many years, the basic representation of Numbers remains debated until today. Even the mechanisms behind the most basic numerical skills, such as the comparison of two Numbers, lack agreement in the research community. Indeed, the true nature of most of the commonly observed effects in simple numerical tasks, e.g., subitizing, the distance effect, the size congruity effect, or the SNARC-effect, remains obscure. On the other hand, the repeated observation of these effects in numerous studies indicates that they are genuine and that they could hold the key toward a proper understanding of Number Processing. It appears that more agreement is reached on the brain areas related to basic Number Processing. Many brain imaging experiments in humans and monkeys, and studies on patients with brain lesions have shown a strong involvement of the horizontal segment of the intraparietal sulcus (hIPS) in Number Processing. However, despite the apparent agreement of a central role of the hIPS in Number Processing, the specificity of this area for Numbers and the exact role of the hIPS in a more elaborate Number Processing brain network is still under investigation. This Research Topic for Frontiers in Human Neuroscience covers a wide range of the remaining issues in numerical cognition. It discusses how numerical quantity is extracted from small sets of stimuli (Hyde, 2011), how the extraction of numerosity can be related to a system that extracts information from continuous dimensions (Henik et al., 2012) or to sensory-motor experiences (Ranzini et al., 2011). Furthermore, the causes of developmental dyscalculia are evaluated and the role played by symbolic (i.e., Arabic numerals) and non-symbolic (i.e., arrays of dots) in understanding this specific difficulty in mathematical Processing is discussed (Noel and Rousselle, 2011). Research in the field of numerical cognition has grappled for to understand exactly how numerical and spatial Processing are related. A Number of contributions in this research topic shed further light on the association between Number and space (Koten et al., 2011; Priftis et al., 2012; Van Dijck et al., 2012; Zorzi et al., 2012). Another question concerns the differences between automatic and intentional Processing of Number and the brain processes that mediate these different levels of Number Processing (Cohen Kadosh et al., 2012). Indeed, rather than confining Number Processing to a single area of the brain, a more elaborate network might be involved when a more elaborate Number Processing is needed, as in the Processing of negative Numbers (Blair et al., 2012), or doing mathematics (Grabner et al., 2011).
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The role of the left intraparietal sulcus in the relationship between symbolic Number Processing and children's arithmetic competence.
Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 2012Co-Authors: Stephanie Bugden, Gavin R. Price, D. Adam Mclean, Daniel AnsariAbstract:The neural foundations of arithmetic learning are not well understood. While behavioral studies have revealed relationships between symbolic Number Processing and individual differences in children's arithmetic performance, the neurocognitive mechanisms that bind symbolic Number Processing and arithmetic are unknown. The current fMRI study investigated the relationship between children's brain activation during symbolic Number comparison (Arabic digits) and individual differences in arithmetic fluency. A significant correlation was found between the numerical ratio effect on reaction times and accuracy and children's arithmetic scores. Furthermore, children with a stronger neural ratio effect in the left intraparietal sulcus (IPS) during symbolic Number Processing exhibited higher arithmetic scores. Previous research has demonstrated that activation of the IPS during numerical magnitude Processing increases over the course of development, and that the left IPS plays an important role in symbolic Number Processing. The present findings extend this knowledge to show that children with more mature response modulation of the IPS during symbolic Number Processing exhibit higher arithmetic competence. These results suggest that the left IPS is a key neural substrate for the relationship between the relative of precision of the representation of numerical magnitude and school-level arithmetic competence.
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Small and large Number Processing in infants and toddlers with Williams syndrome
Developmental science, 2008Co-Authors: Jo Van Herwegen, Daniel Ansari, Annette Karmiloff-smithAbstract:Previous studies have suggested that typically developing 6-month-old infants are able to discriminate between small and large numerosities. However, discrimination between small numerosities in young infants is only possible when variables continuous with Number (e.g. area or circumference) are confounded. In contrast, large Number discrimination is successful even when variables continuous with Number are systematically controlled for. These findings suggest the existence of different systems underlying small and large Number Processing in infancy. How do these develop in atypical syndromes? Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurocognitive developmental disorder in which numerical cognition has been found to be impaired in older children and adults. Do impairments of Number Processing have their origins in infancy? Here this question is investigated by testing the small and large Number discrimination abilities of infants and toddlers with WS. While infants with WS were able to discriminate between 2 and 3 elements when total area was confounded with numerosity, the same infants did not discriminate between 8 and 16 elements, when Number was not confounded with continuous variables. These findings suggest that a system for tracking the features of small Numbers of object (object-file representation) may be functional in WS, while large Number discrimination is impaired from an early age onwards. Finally, we argue that individual differences in large Number Processing in infancy are more likely than small Number Processing to be predictive of later development of numerical cognition.
Elise Klein - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Language influences on numerical development—Inversion effects on multi-digit Number Processing
Frontiers in Psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, Silvia Pixner, Liane Kaufmann, Julia Bahnmueller, Anne Mann, Hans-christoph Nuerk, K. Orbinian MoellerAbstract:In early numerical development, children have to become familiar with the Arabic Number system and its place-value structure. The present review summarizes and discusses evidence for language influences on the acquisition of the highly transparent structuring principles of digital-Arabic digits by means of its moderation through the transparency of the respective language’s Number word system. In particular, the so-called inversion property (i.e., 24 named as ‘four and twenty’ instead of ‘twenty four’) was found to influence Number Processing in children not only in verbal but also in non-verbal numerical tasks. Additionally, there is first evidence suggesting that inversion-related difficulties may influence numerical Processing longitudinally. Generally, language-specific influences in children’s numerical development are most pronounced for multi-digit Numbers. Yet, there is currently only one study on three-digit Number Processing for German-speaking children. A direct comparison of additional new data from Italian-speaking children further corroborates the Whorfian claim that language impacts on all types of cognitive (Number) Processing as inversion-related interference was found most pronounced for German-speaking children. In sum, we conclude that numerical development may not be language-specific but seems to be moderated by language.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing. To evaluate influences of object-based neglect in numerical cognition, a group of neglect patients and two control groups had to compare two-digit Numbers to an internally represented standard. Conceptualizing two-digit Numbers as objects of which the left part (i.e., the tens digit should be specifically neglected) we were able to evaluate object-based neglect for Number magnitude Processing. Object-based neglect was indicated by a larger unit-decade compatibility effect actually reflecting impaired Processing of the leftward tens digits. Additionally, faster Processing of within- as compared to between-decade items provided further evidence suggesting particular difficulties in integrating tens and units into the place-value structure of the Arabic Number system. In summary, the present study indicates that, in addition to the spatial representation of Number magnitude, also the Processing of place-value information of multi-digit Numbers seems specifically impaired in neglect patients.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and brain functions : BBF, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing.
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Extending the Mental Number Line A Review of Multi-Digit Number Processing
Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 2011Co-Authors: Hans-christoph Nuerk, K. Orbinian Moeller, Elise Klein, Klaus Willmes, Martin H. FischerAbstract:Multi-digit Number Processing is ubiquitous in our everyday life - even in school, multi-digit Numbers are computed from the first year onward. Yet, many problems children and adults have are about the relation of different digits (for instance with fractions, decimals, or carry effects in multi-digit addition). Cognitive research has mainly focused on single-digit Processing, and there is no comprehensive review of the different multi-digit Number Processing types and effects. The current review aims to fill this gap. First, we argue that effects observed in single- digit tasks cannot simply be transferred to multi-digit Processing. Next, we list 16 effect types and processes which are specific for multi-digit Number Processing. We then discuss the development of multi-digit Number Processing, its neurocognitive correlates, its cultural or language- related modulation, and finally some models for multi-digit Number Processing. We finish with conclusions and perspectives about where multi- digit Number Processing research may or should be heading in following years.
Klaus Willmes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing. To evaluate influences of object-based neglect in numerical cognition, a group of neglect patients and two control groups had to compare two-digit Numbers to an internally represented standard. Conceptualizing two-digit Numbers as objects of which the left part (i.e., the tens digit should be specifically neglected) we were able to evaluate object-based neglect for Number magnitude Processing. Object-based neglect was indicated by a larger unit-decade compatibility effect actually reflecting impaired Processing of the leftward tens digits. Additionally, faster Processing of within- as compared to between-decade items provided further evidence suggesting particular difficulties in integrating tens and units into the place-value structure of the Arabic Number system. In summary, the present study indicates that, in addition to the spatial representation of Number magnitude, also the Processing of place-value information of multi-digit Numbers seems specifically impaired in neglect patients.
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Object-based neglect in Number Processing.
Behavioral and brain functions : BBF, 2013Co-Authors: Elise Klein, K. Orbinian Moeller, Daniela Zinsberger, Harald Zauner, Christine Haider, Alfred Gassner, Guilherme Wood, Klaus Willmes, Hans-christoph NuerkAbstract:Recent evidence suggests that neglect patients seem to have particular problems representing relatively smaller Numbers corresponding to the left part of the mental Number line. However, while this indicates space-based neglect for representational Number space little is known about whether and - if so - how object-based neglect influences Number Processing.
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What Accounts for Individual and Gender Differences in the Multi-Digit Number Processing of Primary School Children?
Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 2012Co-Authors: Helga Krinzinger, Guilherme Wood, Klaus WillmesAbstract:Gender differences in numerical domains have frequently been reported, but typically only from high-school age onwards. Recently, we found performance differences in favor of primary school boys in multi-digit Number Processing. Several underlying factors have been suggested to explain general differences in multi-digit Number Processing (such as visual-spatial working memory capacity), gender differences in mathematics (such as attitudes toward mathematics), and gender differences in multi-digit Number Processing (such as visual-spatial abilities). To date, no study has tested the concurrent impact of these factors on the development of multi-digit Number Processing in primary school children; thus, we applied structural equation modeling to a longitudinal dataset of 140 primary school children. Our main result was that gender exerted the strongest influence on multi-digit Number Processing, which was partly mediated by attitudes toward mathematics. Furthermore, general visual-spatial abilities (but not ...
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The role of finger representations and saccades for Number Processing: an FMRI study in children.
Frontiers in psychology, 2011Co-Authors: Helga Krinzinger, Jan Willem Koten, Houpand Horoufchin, Nils Kohn, Dominique Arndt, Katleen Sahr, Kerstin Konrad, Klaus WillmesAbstract:A possible functional role of finger representations for the development of early numerical cognition has been the subject of recent debate; however, until now, only behavioral studies have directly supported this view. Working from recent models of Number Processing, we focused on the neural networks involved in numerical tasks and their relationship to the areas underlying finger representations and saccades in children aged 6-12 years. We were able to differentiate three parietal circuits that were related to distinct aspects of Number Processing. Abstract magnitude Processing was subserved by an association area also activated by saccades and visually guided finger movements. Addition processes led to activation in an area only engaged during saccade encoding, whereas counting processes resulted in the activation of an area only activated during visually guided finger movements, namely in the anterior intraparietal sulcus. Apart from this area, a large network of specifically finger-related brain areas including the ventral precentral sulcus, supplementary motor area, dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex, insula, thalamus, midbrain, and cerebellum was activated during (particularly non-symbolic) exact addition but not during magnitude comparison. Moreover, a finger-related activation cluster in the right ventral precentral sulcus was only present during non-symbolic addition and magnitude comparison, but not during symbolic Number Processing tasks. We conclude that finger counting may critically mediate the step from non-symbolic to symbolic and exact Number Processing via somatosensory integration processes and therefore represents an important example of embodied cognition.
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Multi-Digit Number Processing
2011Co-Authors: Hans-christoph Nuerk, Klaus Willmes, Martin H. FischerAbstract:The present topical issue on ‘‘multi-digit Number Processing’’ has been compiled with a threefold aim in mind. First, for researchers who are not yet familiar with the topic, it provides a good opportunity for an introduction to this particular field. To assist with this, the topical issue contains a review article providing an overview of the field followed by empirical papers on current research and opinion pieces that discuss issues currently hotly debated in the field. Second, a topical issue does, of course, provide the opportunity to focus on and to integrate research on a particular topic, in this case multi-digit Number Processing. Various papers on different aspects of multi-digit Number
