The role of visuospatial working memory in numerical processing - an fMRI study.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Psychology

Background:

• Studies suggest a link between visual-spatial working memory (VSWM) and number processing abilities.
• Further research is needed to understand this relationship behaviorally and neuro-cognitively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between VSWM and number processing in adults using behavioral and fMRI methods.
• To explore the neuroanatomical differences associated with varying VSWM capacities during symbolic numerical tasks.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one students were recruited, with 40 included in the analysis (23 males, 17 females).
• Participants were categorized into High and Low VSWM groups based on an external VSWM task.
• fMRI was used during a number line estimation task, with data analyzed at individual and group levels, including ROI analyses.

Main Results:

• The Low VSWM group showed longer reaction times in symbolic numerical processing compared to the High VSWM group.
• fMRI revealed greater activation in right fronto-parietal regions for the High VSWM group, and left hemisphere engagement (parietal, frontal, temporal) for the Low VSWM group.
• Left IPS activation positively correlated with the number line task, highlighting its role in symbolic number processing.

Conclusions:

• Hemispheric differences in brain activation during number processing were observed between High and Low VSWM groups.
• Individuals with High VSWM efficiently process symbolic numbers by recruiting domain-general VSWM resources.
• Individuals with Low VSWM capacity may rely on verbal abilities to compensate for spatial processing deficits in numerical tasks.