Simple math problems and Ga/executive function-research brief

Brief highlights from s journal article related to simple arithmetic (Gq) problems.

DeRammelaere, S., Stuyven, E., & Vandierendonck, A. (2001). Verifying simple arithmetic sums and products: Are the phonological loop and the central executive involved? Memory & Cognition, 29(2), 267-273.

• In two experiments, we investigated the role of the phonological loop and the central executive in the verification of the complete set of one-digit addition (Experiment 1) and multiplication (Experiment 2) problems. The focus of the present study was on the contradictory results concerning the contribution of the phonological loop in the verification of true problems (e.g., 8 + 4 a: 12 or 4 x 6 a: 24) reported until now. The results revealed that this slave system is not invoiced in verifying simple arithmetic problems, in contrast to the central executive. Furthermore, our results indicated that the split effect is due to the use of two different arithmetic strategies. 267

• Our data suggest that the phonological loop is not involved in the verification of false arithmetic problems or in the verification of true problems (e.g., 8 + 4 = 12 or 7 x 3 = 21). The latter finding is not in agreement with models that assume that basic arithmetic facts are stored in a language-dependent verbal form, like Dehaene's triple-code model (Dehaene, 1992; Dehaene & Cohen. 1995). 271

• The second conclusion concerns the contribution of central executive. Once more, it was found that a secondary task taxing executive processes interfered with the verification of simple arithmetic problems. 271

• Other studies also have shown that executive processes might be crucial in arithmetic. 271