title: Fact learning in complex arithmetic-the role of the angular gyrus revisited.
abstract: In recent theoretical considerations as well as in neuroimaging findings the left angular gyrus (AG) has been associated with the retrieval of arithmetic facts. This interpretation was corroborated by higher AG activity when processing trained as compared with untrained multiplication problems. However, so far neural correlates of processing trained versus untrained problems were only compared after training. We employed an established learning paradigm (i.e., extensive training of multiplication problems) but measured brain activation before and afte training to evaluate neural correlates of arithmetic fact acquisition more specifically. When comparing activation patterns for trained and untrained problems of the post-training session, higher AG activation for trained problems was replicated. However, when activation for trained problems was compared to activation for the same problems in the pre-training session, no signal change in the AG was observed. Instead, our results point toward a central role of hippocampal, para-hippocampal, and retrosplenial structures in arithmetic fact retrieval. We suggest that the AG might not be associated with the actual retrieval of arithmetic facts, and outline an attentional account of the role of the AG in arithmetic fact retrieval that is compatible with recent attention to memory hypotheses. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3061-3079, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.|Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bloechle
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.|Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bahnmueller
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.|Centre of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rennig
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Section Neuropsychology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willmes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Psychology, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavdaroglu
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.|Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Korbinian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.affiliation: Neurocognition Lab, Knowledge Media Research Center, Tuebingen, Germany.|Department of Neurology, Section Neuropsychology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: angular gyrus; arithmetic fact learning; attention to memory; hippocampus; numerical cognition