title: Enhancement of numeric cognition in children with low achievement in mathematic after a non-instrumental musical training.
abstract: Studies suggest that musical training enhances spatial-temporal reasoning and leads to greater learning of mathematical concepts. The aim of this prospective study was to verify the efficacy of a Non-Instrumental Musical Training (NIMT) on the Numerical Cognition systems in children with low achievement in math. For this purpose, we examined, with a cluster analysis, whether children with low scores on Numerical Cognition would be grouped in the same cluster at pre and post-NIMT. Participants were primary school children divided into two groups according to their scores on an Arithmetic test. Results with a specialized battery of Numerical Cognition revealed improvements for Cluster 2 (children with low achievement in math) especially for number production capacity compared to normative data. Besides, the number of children with low scores in Numerical Cognition decreased at post-NIMT. These findings suggest that NIMT enhances Numerical Cognition and seems to be a useful tool for rehabilitation of children with low achievement in math.
authors.affiliation: Human Cognition Lab., School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: id5157@alunos.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Fabiana Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Human Cognition Lab., School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; UNESP - São Paulo State University, Postgraduation Program in Developmental Psychology and Learning, Bauru Campus, Bauru, Brasil. Electronic address: flaviahs@psi.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Flávia H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition; D060705:Dyscalculia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009146:Music; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Dyscalculia; Musical training; Numerical cognition