Bidirectional links in the network of multiplication facts.
In three experiments, we tested the hypothesis that activation of multiplication operand nodes (e.g., 3 and 8) can occur through presentation of their product (e.g., 24). In Experiments 1 and 2 we found activation of the operands when the product was presented as a cue in a number-matching task. In Experiment 3, activation also occurred in a parity-matching task, where the product (24) was not relevant to the parity matching on its operands (3 and 8). We concluded that bidirectional links exist among the operands and their product for multiplication problems and these links can be activated in a purely stimulus-driven manner. We suggest this may constitute the basis for the solution of simple divisions by mediation through the complementary multiplication facts.
Rusconi
Elena
E
Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Galfano
Giovanni
G
Rebonato
Elena
E
Umiltà
Carlo
C
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D011939:Mental Recall; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D012193:Reversal Learning