Logo image
The Differential Role of Verbal and Spatial Working Memory in the Neural Basis of Arithmetic
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The Differential Role of Verbal and Spatial Working Memory in the Neural Basis of Arithmetic

Özlem Ece Demir, JEROME PRADO and James R Booth
Developmental neuropsychology, Vol.39(6), pp.440-458
01/01/2014
DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2014.939182
PMCID: PMC4142562
PMID: 25144257
url
http://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2014.939182View
Open Access

Abstract

We examine the relations of verbal and spatial working memory (WM) ability to the neural bases of arithmetic in school-age children. We independently localize brain regions subserving verbal versus spatial representations. For multiplication, higher verbal WM ability is associated with greater recruitment of the left temporal cortex, identified by the verbal localizer. For multiplication and subtraction, higher spatial WM ability is associated with greater recruitment of right parietal cortex, identified by the spatial localizer. Depending on their WM ability, children engage different neural systems that manipulate different representations to solve arithmetic problems.
Cognitive Science

Details

Logo image