title: Numerical magnitude processing in abacus-trained children with superior mathematical ability: an EEG study.
abstract: Distance effect has been regarded as the best established marker of basic numerical magnitude processes and is related to individual mathematical abilities. A larger behavioral distance effect is suggested to be concomitant with lower mathematical achievement in children. However, the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities is unclear. One could get superior mathematical abilities by acquiring the skill of abacus-based mental calculation (AMC), which can be used to solve calculation problems with exceptional speed and high accuracy. In the current study, we explore the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities by examining whether and how the AMC training modifies numerical magnitude processing. Thus, mathematical competencies were tested in 18 abacus-trained children (who accepted the AMC training) and 18 non-trained children. Electroencephalography (EEG) waveforms were recorded when these children executed numerical comparison tasks in both Arabic digit and dot array forms. We found that: (a) the abacus-trained group had superior mathematical abilities than their peers; (b) distance effects were found both in behavioral results and on EEG waveforms; (c) the distance effect size of the average amplitude on the late negative-going component was different between groups in the digit task, with a larger effect size for abacus-trained children; (d) both the behavioral and EEG distance effects were modulated by the notation. These results revealed that the neural substrates of magnitude processing were modified by AMC training, and suggested that the mechanism of the representation of numerical magnitude for children with superior mathematical abilities was different from their peers. In addition, the results provide evidence for a view of non-abstract numerical representation.
authors.affiliation: Bio-X Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Bio-X Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Feng-lei
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Bio-X Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Bio-X Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Heilongjiang Abacus Association, Haerbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Bio-X Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; chenfy@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fei-Yan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Abacus training; Child; Distance effect; Electroencephalography (EEG); Numerical magnitude processing