Is phonological processing a potential mechanism?

The Effect of Language System on Different Numerical Systems

Citations: Wang & Deng, 2014 in Progress in Psychological Sciences (written in Chinese) 心理科学进展 (see original paper).

Findings:

• This review paper examines the differential associations between language systems and three core numerical systems: the approximate number system (ANS), the subitizing system, and the symbolic number system. Evidence indicates that the ANS and subitizing are largely independent of language systems. In contrast, the symbolic number system shows consistent associations with language, as demonstrated in longitudinal studies, language-switching paradigms, dual-task experiments, and cross-linguistic designs. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain debated. Some accounts emphasize the role of phonological short-term memory, whereas others propose that phonologically coded information stored in long-term memory mediates the link between language and symbolic number processing. Besides, language systems appear to influence different types of math skills (e.g., subtraction vs. multiplication) differently depending on the demands of magnitude manipulation.

Educational or practical implications:

• Phonological processing is a likely candidate underlying the relationship between language and mathematical abilities and may help explain the high comorbidity between dyslexia and dyscalculia. However, more systematic research is needed to clarify how phonological processing contributes to different types of math skills and whether other components of the language system, beyond phonology, also play a role in mathematical learning and performance.

Are familial risks of dyslexia and dyscalculia related to brain activation differences for numerical magnitude processing?

• Work in progress

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