Neural Correlates of Numerical Estimation: The Role of Strategy Use

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Mathematical Cognition

Background:

• Computational estimation, approximating arithmetic solutions, is vital for daily life but its neural basis remains unclear.
• Understanding the brain mechanisms of estimation is crucial for cognitive science and education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of two distinct computational estimation strategies: approximated calculation (AC) and sense of magnitude (SOM).
• To differentiate the brain regions involved in AC versus SOM during numerical judgment tasks.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to scan 31 college students.
• Participants performed two-digit multiplication problems, judging if the result exceeded a reference number using either AC or SOM strategies in separate blocks.

Main Results:

• Both AC and SOM activated brain areas associated with calculation, numerical cognition, decision-making, and working memory.
• Approximated calculation (AC) showed greater activation in specific parietal regions (left SMG, bilateral superior parietal lobule, right inferior parietal lobule) compared to SOM.
• Inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activation positively correlated with individual accuracy, highlighting its essential role in both estimation strategies.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that the analogic code of magnitude is more integral to the approximated calculation (AC) strategy than the sense of magnitude (SOM) strategy.
• This research elucidates distinct neural pathways for different computational estimation approaches.