title: Memory Updating and Mental Arithmetic.
abstract: Is domain-general memory updating ability predictive of calculation skills or are such skills better predicted by the capacity for updating specifically numerical information? Here, we used multidigit mental multiplication (MMM) as a measure for calculating skill as this operation requires the accurate maintenance and updating of information in addition to skills needed for arithmetic more generally. In Experiment 1, we found that only individual differences with regard to a task updating numerical information following addition (MUcalc) could predict the performance of MMM, perhaps owing to common elements between the task and MMM. In Experiment 2, new updating tasks were designed to clarify this: a spatial updating task with no numbers, a numerical task with no calculation, and a word task. The results showed that both MUcalc and the spatial task were able to predict the performance of MMM but only with the more difficult problems, while other updating tasks did not predict performance. It is concluded that relevant processes involved in updating the contents of working memory support mental arithmetic in adults.
authors: Department of Psychology, National Chengchi UniversityTaipei, Taiwan; Research Center for Testing and Assessment, National Academy for Educational ResearchNew Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Ching
authors: CC
authors: Han
authors: Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tsung-Han
authors: TH
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Psychology, National Chengchi UniversityTaipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychology, University of YorkYork, UK.
authors: Chia-Yuan
authors: CY
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Psychology, National Chengchi UniversityTaipei, Taiwan; Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi UniversityTaipei, Taiwan.
authors: Nai-Shing
authors: NS
authors: Yen
keywords: domain-general updating ability; domain-specific updating ability; multidigit mental multiplication; task difficulty; updating working memory