Time processing skills in individuals with math impairment and Developmental Dyscalculia

Area of Science:

• Cognitive psychology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental disorders

Background:

• Growing evidence links time processing (TP) abilities with mathematical and numerical skills.
• Cognitive systems may process various magnitudes, suggesting an overlap between time and number domains.
• Understanding TP deficits in Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is crucial for theoretical and practical insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on time processing deficits in individuals with Developmental Dyscalculia (DD).
• To explore theoretical associations between time and number processing.
• To examine methodologies for assessing TP and synthesize empirical findings in DD populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review across five databases and citation searching.
• Inclusion of 12 cross-sectional studies.
• Analysis focused on theoretical accounts, assessment methods, and empirical findings regarding TP and DD.

Main Results:

• A general trend indicates that individuals with DD tend to underestimate temporal durations.
• Findings are inconsistent regarding sub-second time intervals and performance on specific time tasks.
• Significant individual variability in TP skills exists within the DD population.

Conclusions:

• The association between TP and DD is supported by a trend of duration underestimation.
• Inconsistencies in findings necessitate methodological standardization and clearer terminology in TP research.
• Personalized assessment strategies may be beneficial due to the heterogeneity of TP skills in DD.