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Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety.

Mark H Ashcraft¹, Jeremy A Krause

¹Psychology Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-5030, USA. mark.ashcraft@unlv.edu

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|August 19, 2007

Summary

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Math anxiety significantly hinders math performance by impairing working memory. This cognitive load, similar to a dual-task, affects arithmetic and complex math skills, impacting academic and career choices.

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Educational Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Working memory is crucial for mathematical performance beyond simple retrieval.
Mathematics anxiety leads to avoidance of math-related education and careers.
The cognitive impact of math anxiety requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cognitive consequences of mathematics anxiety.
To examine how math anxiety affects performance on standardized math tests.
To understand the relationship between math anxiety and working memory function.

Main Methods:

Assessed math anxiety levels in participants.
Administered a standardized math achievement test.
Analyzed the correlation between math anxiety scores and test performance.

Related Experiment Videos

Evaluated the impact of math anxiety on working memory capacity.

Main Results:

Mathematics anxiety negatively correlates with math achievement test performance.
High math anxiety compromises working memory functioning.
Math anxiety acts as a cognitive load, similar to a dual-task, diverting resources.

Conclusions:

Math anxiety has direct cognitive consequences, impairing working memory.
Interventions addressing math anxiety may improve cognitive function and math performance.
Understanding the developmental and educational factors of math anxiety is crucial.