Diagnostic markers of young children's numerical cognition: The significance of precise small number, approximate number, executive function and vocabulary abilities
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1
University of Melbourne, School of Psychological Sciences, Australia
Humans possess two anatomically distinct systems for representing numerosity: a precise small number and an approximate number system. These two neuro-cognitive systems are indexed by the abilities to enumerate small sets (subitizing) and compare magnitudes respectively, and are hypothesised to scaffold the acquisition of numerical cognition in children. Insofar as this is correct, differences in dot enumeration (DE) and magnitude comparison (MC) abilities may be unique diagnostic markers of dyscalculia. However, executive functions (EFs"”working memory "WM" and response inhibition "RI") and receptive vocabulary abilities have also been implicated in early math (dis)abilities. Determining the relative contributions of core number (DE and MC), EFs and vocabulary abilities for young children's math abilities has significance for models of math cognition. To clarify this issue, we assessed 125, 40- to 64-month olds' DE, MC, WM, RI, receptive vocabulary and number abilities (cardinality, counting, non-verbal arithmetic, addition, digit knowledge, and number line representations). Multiple regression analyses showed that young children's DE efficiency was a strong predictor of all math abilities, over and above the contributions of MC, EFs and vocabulary (controlling for age and basic RTs). MC efficiency, RI, and vocabulary explained additional variance in counting and arithmetic abilities. Our findings provide strong support for the claim that core number abilities are associated with early math (dis)abilities. Nevertheless, executive functions (RI) and vocabulary abilities may play some role in supporting numerical processing in young children. Our findings are the first to show that the ability to precisely enumerate sets (DE) is an important marker of numerical cognition in very young children. They extend upon the growing body of research which shows that core number abilities are critical neuro-cognitive markers of math disabilities in older children and adults.
Keywords:
Dyscalculia,
executive functions,
young children,
math cognition,
precise small and approximate number
Conference:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Cognition and Executive Processes
Citation:
Gray
S and
Reeve
R
(2015). Diagnostic markers of young children's numerical cognition: The significance of precise small number, approximate number, executive function and vocabulary abilities.
Conference Abstract:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00205
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Received:
19 Feb 2015;
Published Online:
24 Apr 2015.
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Correspondence:
Ms. Sarah Gray, University of Melbourne, School of Psychological Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, sarahgray8@gmail.com