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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)

Published on: August 28, 2021

Mathematics anxiety affects counting but not subitizing during visual enumeration.

Erin A Maloney¹, Evan F Risko, Daniel Ansari

¹Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. eamalone@artsmail.uwaterloo.ca

|November 10, 2009

Summary

Mathematics anxiety impacts basic number processing, specifically the counting system, not simple arithmetic or subitizing. Working memory deficits mediate this difference in individuals with math anxiety.

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Published on: October 19, 2014

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Educational Psychology

Background:

Mathematics anxiety is often linked to difficulties in higher-level mathematical processes.
Previous research indicated no significant differences in simple arithmetic between anxious and non-anxious individuals.
The underlying mechanisms of mathematics anxiety at basic numerical processing levels remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate numerical processing differences in individuals with and without mathematics anxiety.
To examine the roles of subitizing and counting in basic number processing within mathematics anxiety.
To determine if working memory mediates group differences in basic numerical tasks.

Main Methods:

A visual enumeration task was employed to assess subitizing and counting abilities.
Participants were categorized into mathematics anxious and non-mathematics anxious groups.
Statistical analyses, including mediation analysis, were conducted to examine group differences and the role of working memory.

Main Results:

Mathematics anxious individuals demonstrated a deficit in the counting range of numerical processing.
No significant differences were observed in the subitizing range between the groups.
Working memory capacity was identified as a significant mediator of the observed differences in counting.

Conclusions:

Mathematics anxiety affects more fundamental numerical processing, specifically counting, than previously assumed.
Working memory plays a crucial role in the manifestation of mathematics anxiety at basic processing levels.
These findings suggest interventions for mathematics anxiety should consider basic numerical processing and working memory.