The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study
This study used for the first time event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the well-known arithmetic problem size effect in children. The electrophysiological correlates of this problem size effect have been well documented in adults, but such information in children is lacking. In the present st...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00756/full |
| _version_ | 1819015757974994944 |
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| author | Leen eVan Beek Pol eGhesquière Bert eDe Smedt Lieven eLagae |
| author_facet | Leen eVan Beek Pol eGhesquière Bert eDe Smedt Lieven eLagae |
| author_sort | Leen eVan Beek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study used for the first time event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the well-known arithmetic problem size effect in children. The electrophysiological correlates of this problem size effect have been well documented in adults, but such information in children is lacking. In the present study, 22 typically developing 12-year-olds were asked to solve single-digit addition problems of small (sum ≤ 10) and large problem size (sum > 10) and to speak the solution into a voice key while ERPs were recorded. Children displayed similar early and late components compared to previous adult studies on the problem size effect. There was no effect of problem size on the early components P1, N1 and P2. The peak amplitude of the N2 component showed more negative potentials on left and right anterior electrodes for large additions compared to small additions, which might reflect differences in attentional and working memory resources between large and small problems. The mean amplitude of the late positivity component (LPC), which follows the N2, was significantly larger for large than for small additions at right parieto-occipital electrodes, in line with previous adult data. The ERPs of the problem size effect during arithmetic might be a useful neural marker for future studies on fact retrieval impairments in children with mathematical difficulties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:36:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0039c6822858405aaa9805398546bbcb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:36:49Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-0039c6822858405aaa9805398546bbcb2022-12-21T19:18:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612014-09-01810.3389/fnhum.2014.00756109232The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential studyLeen eVan Beek0Pol eGhesquière1Bert eDe Smedt2Lieven eLagae3KULeuvenKULeuvenKULeuvenKULeuvenThis study used for the first time event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the well-known arithmetic problem size effect in children. The electrophysiological correlates of this problem size effect have been well documented in adults, but such information in children is lacking. In the present study, 22 typically developing 12-year-olds were asked to solve single-digit addition problems of small (sum ≤ 10) and large problem size (sum > 10) and to speak the solution into a voice key while ERPs were recorded. Children displayed similar early and late components compared to previous adult studies on the problem size effect. There was no effect of problem size on the early components P1, N1 and P2. The peak amplitude of the N2 component showed more negative potentials on left and right anterior electrodes for large additions compared to small additions, which might reflect differences in attentional and working memory resources between large and small problems. The mean amplitude of the late positivity component (LPC), which follows the N2, was significantly larger for large than for small additions at right parieto-occipital electrodes, in line with previous adult data. The ERPs of the problem size effect during arithmetic might be a useful neural marker for future studies on fact retrieval impairments in children with mathematical difficulties.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00756/fullChildrenArithmeticevent-related potentials (ERP)problem size effectVerbal production task |
| spellingShingle | Leen eVan Beek Pol eGhesquière Bert eDe Smedt Lieven eLagae The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Children Arithmetic event-related potentials (ERP) problem size effect Verbal production task |
| title | The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study |
| title_full | The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study |
| title_fullStr | The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study |
| title_short | The arithmetic problem size effect in children: an event-related potential study |
| title_sort | arithmetic problem size effect in children an event related potential study |
| topic | Children Arithmetic event-related potentials (ERP) problem size effect Verbal production task |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00756/full |
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