title: Visual perception can account for the close relation between numerosity processing and computational fluency.
abstract: Studies have shown that numerosity processing (e.g., comparison of numbers of dots in two dot arrays) is significantly correlated with arithmetic performance. Researchers have attributed this association to the fact that both tasks share magnitude processing. The current investigation tested an alternative hypothesis, which states that visual perceptual ability (as measured by a figure-matching task) can account for the close relation between numerosity processing and arithmetic performance (computational fluency). Four hundred and twenty four third- to fifth-grade children (220 boys and 204 girls, 8.0-11.0 years old; 120 third graders, 146 fourth graders, and 158 fifth graders) were recruited from two schools (one urban and one suburban) in Beijing, China. Six classes were randomly selected from each school, and all students in each selected class participated in the study. All children were given a series of cognitive and mathematical tests, including numerosity comparison, figure matching, forward verbal working memory, visual tracing, non-verbal matrices reasoning, mental rotation, choice reaction time, arithmetic tests and curriculum-based mathematical achievement test. Results showed that figure-matching ability had higher correlations with numerosity processing and computational fluency than did other cognitive factors (e.g., forward verbal working memory, visual tracing, non-verbal matrix reasoning, mental rotation, and choice reaction time). More important, hierarchical multiple regression showed that figure matching ability accounted for the well-established association between numerosity processing and computational fluency. In support of the visual perception hypothesis, the results suggest that visual perceptual ability, rather than magnitude processing, may be the shared component of numerosity processing and arithmetic performance.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Siegler Center for Innovative Learning, Beijing Normal University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinlin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Siegler Center for Innovative Learning, Beijing Normal University Beijing, China ; Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University Hang Zhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Siegler Center for Innovative Learning, Beijing Normal University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yiyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Siegler Center for Innovative Learning, Beijing Normal University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jiaxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Chuansheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: approximate number system; arithmetic; computational fluency; numerosity; visual perception