Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Education
Program
Education
Supervisor
Dr. Daniel Ansari
Abstract
The aim of the present thesis was to bridge the gap between neuroscience and education by
exploring the cognitive and neural functions of numerical magnitude processing in 3rd and 4th gradechildren. First,thedevelopmentofthebehaviouralnumericalratioeffectwasexplored
over three testing sessions, as well as its relationship to individual differences in math achievement. Second,duringthethirdtestingsession,theneuralcorrelatesoftheratioeffect wererelatedtomathperformance. Thelongitudinalresultsrevealthattheratioeffectdecreased over time indicating children develop a precise representation of numerical magnitude with age, and this developmental trajectory is negatively correlated with math achievement scores. A significant effect of ratio was found in the prefrontal cortex and the intraparietal sulcus which was positively correlated with math achievement scores. These findings suggest that there is a relationship between the behavioural and neuronal correlates of basic numerical magnitude
processing and individual differences in math achievement.
Recommended Citation
Bugden, Stephanie, "RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEURAL CORRELATES OF SYMBOLIC NUMERICAL MAGNITUDE PROCESSING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN’S ARITHMETIC COMPETENCE" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4843.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4843