Adults with dyscalculia perform the number comparison task as accurately as controls but respond significantly more slowly¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associational r2 · q3 · i3 large
Currency · newest study 2019 · checked against its sources 2026-10-18 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i3 Accuracy did not differ significantly between groups, but reaction times were significantly slower in dyscalculia (dCohen = 1.89). → Bulthé Jessica 2019 q3 i3 Accuracy was higher and RT faster for symbolic than non-symbolic numbers across both groups (dCohen = 1.89 and 1.74), with no group × format interaction. → Bulthé Jessica 2019 (2)

Evidence¶

Bulthé Jessica 2019¶

Bulthé Jessica, Prinsen Jellina, Vanderauwera Jolijn, Duyck Stefanie, Daniels Nicky, Gillebert Céline R., Mantini Dante, Op de Beeck Hans P., De Smedt Bert. (2019). Multi-method brain imaging reveals impaired representations of number as well as altered connectivity in adults with dyscalculia. Neuroimage, 190, 289-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.06.012

q3 · i3 · associational · r2

2 × 2 ANOVA (group × format) on the in-scanner number comparison task of 24 dyscalculia and 24 control adults. Accuracy did not differ (95.75% vs 94.77%, p = 0.13, dCohen = 0.45), but dyscalculia participants were significantly slower, a large printed effect size (dCohen = 1.89).

"For reaction time, a significant group difference was observed, with faster response times for controls (M = 0.90s, SD = 0.07) than for individuals with dyscalculia (M = 1.18s, SD = 0.07) (F1,92 = 41.2, p < 0.001, dCohen = 1.89)."

Bulthé Jessica 2019 (2)¶

Bulthé Jessica, Prinsen Jellina, Vanderauwera Jolijn, Duyck Stefanie, Daniels Nicky, Gillebert Céline R., Mantini Dante, Op de Beeck Hans P., De Smedt Bert. (2019). Multi-method brain imaging reveals impaired representations of number as well as altered connectivity in adults with dyscalculia. Neuroimage, 190, 289-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.06.012

q3 · i3 · causal · r2

Format main effect on accuracy in the same ANOVA: symbolic numbers were responded to more accurately than non-symbolic numbers, a large printed effect size (dCohen = 1.89); the RT format effect carried dCohen = 1.74 and group × format interactions were non-significant for both measures.

"A significant effect for format was observed and accuracy was higher for symbolic (M = 97.35%, SD = 1.45) than for non-symbolic numbers (M = 93.17%, SD = 1.41; F1,92 = 41.04, p < 0.001, dCohen = 1.89)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Learning Disabilities and Developmental Differences — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Number Sense — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Processing Speed — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Children with DD show slower reaction times than TD children during arithmetic problem solving, with no operation-specific RT effect — related
• Spatial processing is preserved but slower in developmental dyscalculia, with slow trail-making and mental rotation speed attributed to WM/inhibition impairment — related
• No univariate activation-level differences between adults with dyscalculia and controls during symbolic or non-symbolic number processing — related
• Adolescents with ADHD respond more slowly than non-ADHD peers across all conditions, and color-shape binding slows responses in both groups
• At all ages, children with developmental dyscalculia perform significantly lower than controls in magnitude comparison tasks using symbolic numbers — related