Article Version of Record

The unique role of spatial working memory for mathematics performance

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Silverman, Sarit
Ashkenazi, Sarit

Abstract / Description

We explored the multi-dimensionality of mathematics and working memory (WM) by examining the differential relationships between different areas of mathematics with visual, spatial, and verbal WM. Previous research proposed that visuospatial WM is a unique predictor of mathematics, but neuroimaging and cognitive research suggest divisions within visuospatial WM. We created a new WM task to isolate visuospatial WM’s visual and spatial components and maintained consistent design across tasks and found that spatial WM predicted mathematics and visual WM did not. We also found that verbal WM predicted all mathematics areas included, while spatial WM was a unique predictor of numerical understanding and geometry, not arithmetic and estimation. These findings integrate previous neuroimaging, cognitive and educational psychology research and further our understanding of the relationship between WM and mathematics.

Keyword(s)

spatial working memory visual working memory mathematics spatial skills multi-dimensionality of mathematics

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2022-03-31

Journal title

Journal of Numerical Cognition

Volume

8

Issue

1

Page numbers

226–243

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Silverman, S., & Ashkenazi, S. (2022). The unique role of spatial working memory for mathematics performance. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 8(1), 226-243. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.7159
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Silverman, Sarit
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Ashkenazi, Sarit
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-04-14T11:22:17Z
  • Made available on
    2022-04-14T11:22:17Z
  • Date of first publication
    2022-03-31
  • Abstract / Description
    We explored the multi-dimensionality of mathematics and working memory (WM) by examining the differential relationships between different areas of mathematics with visual, spatial, and verbal WM. Previous research proposed that visuospatial WM is a unique predictor of mathematics, but neuroimaging and cognitive research suggest divisions within visuospatial WM. We created a new WM task to isolate visuospatial WM’s visual and spatial components and maintained consistent design across tasks and found that spatial WM predicted mathematics and visual WM did not. We also found that verbal WM predicted all mathematics areas included, while spatial WM was a unique predictor of numerical understanding and geometry, not arithmetic and estimation. These findings integrate previous neuroimaging, cognitive and educational psychology research and further our understanding of the relationship between WM and mathematics.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Silverman, S., & Ashkenazi, S. (2022). The unique role of spatial working memory for mathematics performance. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 8(1), 226-243. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.7159
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2363-8761
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5520
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6124
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.7159
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5629
  • Keyword(s)
    spatial working memory
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    visual working memory
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    mathematics
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    spatial skills
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    multi-dimensionality of mathematics
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    The unique role of spatial working memory for mathematics performance
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Journal of Numerical Cognition
  • Page numbers
    226–243
  • Volume
    8
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record
    en_US