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Mathematical problem solving is modulated by word priming.

Chuanlin Zhu1, Zhao Zhang2, Xiaoli Lyu3

  • 1School of Educational Science, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.

Psych Journal
|February 1, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Word valence influences mathematical problem solving. Positive word priming enhanced accuracy with concrete words, while both positive and negative words reduced reaction time for both concrete and abstract word priming conditions.

Keywords:
arithmetic performanceemotional wordestimation taskpriming paradigm

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Mathematical Cognition

Background:

  • Word priming, the phenomenon where exposure to a word influences the response to a subsequent word, is a key area of cognitive research.
  • Mathematical problem solving is a complex cognitive process influenced by various factors, including emotional and semantic contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of word priming valence (positive, negative, neutral) on mathematical problem-solving performance.
  • To differentiate the effects of concrete versus abstract word priming on estimation accuracy and reaction time.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted using multiplication estimation tasks.
  • Participants were exposed to different word priming conditions (concrete vs. abstract, positive vs. negative vs. neutral).
  • Mathematical performance was measured by accuracy (ACC) and reaction time (RT).

Main Results:

  • Concrete word priming: Positive priming improved accuracy with a down-up strategy; both positive and negative priming reduced reaction time.
  • Abstract word priming: Both positive and negative priming reduced reaction time, but did not affect accuracy.
  • Overall, word valence modulated arithmetic performance.

Conclusions:

  • The valence of primed words, whether concrete or abstract, significantly influences mathematical problem-solving performance.
  • This suggests that word processing and emotional valence play a role in arithmetic cognition.
  • Findings contribute to understanding the interplay between language and mathematical abilities.