The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries
Multiplication problems involving large numbers (e.g., 9x8) are more difficult to solve than problems involving small numbers (e.g., 2x3). Behavioral research indicates that this problem-size effect might be due to different factors across countries and educational systems. However, there is no neur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00189/full |
| _version_ | 1818264239206301696 |
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| author | Jérôme ePrado Jiayan eLu Li eLiu Qi eDong Xinlin eZhou James R Booth |
| author_facet | Jérôme ePrado Jiayan eLu Li eLiu Qi eDong Xinlin eZhou James R Booth |
| author_sort | Jérôme ePrado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multiplication problems involving large numbers (e.g., 9x8) are more difficult to solve than problems involving small numbers (e.g., 2x3). Behavioral research indicates that this problem-size effect might be due to different factors across countries and educational systems. However, there is no neuroimaging evidence supporting this hypothesis. Here, we compared the neural correlates of the multiplication problem-size effect in adults educated in China and the United States. We found a greater neural problem-size effect in Chinese than American participants in bilateral superior temporal regions associated with phonological processing. However, we found a greater neural problem-size effect in American than Chinese participants in right intra-parietal sulcus associated with calculation procedures. Therefore, while the multiplication problem-size effect might be a verbal retrieval effect in Chinese as compared to American participants, it may instead stem from the use of calculation procedures in American as compared to Chinese participants. Our results indicate that differences in educational practices might affect the neural bases of symbolic arithmetic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:31:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ff2cc347d8747ebbe07ee9716d410a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:31:45Z |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ff2cc347d8747ebbe07ee9716d410a42022-12-22T00:14:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612013-05-01710.3389/fnhum.2013.0018946895The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countriesJérôme ePrado0Jiayan eLu1Li eLiu2Qi eDong3Xinlin eZhou4James R Booth5Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing Normal UniversityNorthwestern UniversityMultiplication problems involving large numbers (e.g., 9x8) are more difficult to solve than problems involving small numbers (e.g., 2x3). Behavioral research indicates that this problem-size effect might be due to different factors across countries and educational systems. However, there is no neuroimaging evidence supporting this hypothesis. Here, we compared the neural correlates of the multiplication problem-size effect in adults educated in China and the United States. We found a greater neural problem-size effect in Chinese than American participants in bilateral superior temporal regions associated with phonological processing. However, we found a greater neural problem-size effect in American than Chinese participants in right intra-parietal sulcus associated with calculation procedures. Therefore, while the multiplication problem-size effect might be a verbal retrieval effect in Chinese as compared to American participants, it may instead stem from the use of calculation procedures in American as compared to Chinese participants. Our results indicate that differences in educational practices might affect the neural bases of symbolic arithmetic.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00189/fullEducationfMRIArithmeticmultiplicationproblem size |
| spellingShingle | Jérôme ePrado Jiayan eLu Li eLiu Qi eDong Xinlin eZhou James R Booth The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Education fMRI Arithmetic multiplication problem size |
| title | The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries |
| title_full | The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries |
| title_fullStr | The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries |
| title_short | The neural bases of the multiplication problem-size effect across countries |
| title_sort | neural bases of the multiplication problem size effect across countries |
| topic | Education fMRI Arithmetic multiplication problem size |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00189/full |
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