Math anxiety compromises working memory only when the anxiety is aroused by computation-based tasks, not on verbal span assessments¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · reviewr2·q3
Currency · newest study 2007 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i? A computation-based span task showed a significant full-scale correlation of -.40 between math anxiety and assessed working memory capacity, while verbal span tasks showed no anxiety-group differences. → Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause 2007
q3 i? In a dual-task addition experiment, the six-letter load with carry problems affected the high-anxious group most, indicating anxiety drains working memory resources during demanding math. → Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause 2007 (2)
Evidence¶
Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause 2007¶
Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(2), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03194059
q3 · i? · review · r2
The review reports that two verbal-based span assessments showed "no significant anxiety-group differences at all", but "when a computation-based span task was administered, we found a pronounced decline in assessed working memory capacity", with a significant full-scale correlation of -.40.
"when a computation-based span task was administered, we found a pronounced decline in assessed working memory capacity; the full-scale correlation was a significant -.40 (Ashcraft & Kirk, 2001, Experiments 1 and 3)"
Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause 2007 (2)¶
Mark H. Ashcraft and Jeremy A. Krause. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(2), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03194059
q3 · i? · review · r2
Participants did two-column addition alone or with a letter-recall secondary task (Ashcraft & Kirk, 2001, Experiment 2). "But in the difficult six-letter condition, with the working-memory-demanding carry problems, the effect of the dual task was quite strong, and affected the high-anxious group the most".
"But in the difficult six-letter condition, with the working-memory-demanding carry problems, the effect of the dual task was quite strong, and affected the high-anxious group the most"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Math anxiety has a small-to-moderate negative correlation with math achievement (r = −.28) in a meta-analysis of correlations from 223 studies — related
- Math anxiety has both a direct negative effect and a WM-mediated indirect effect on children's verbal Math Reasoning, but only an indirect effect on Numerical Operations — related
- Teacher-rated general anxiety is associated with lower verbal working memory performance — related
- Verbal working memory directly and positively predicts math performance in grades 3 and 4 — related
- Lower-than-average math ability, low working memory capacity, susceptibility to public embarrassment, and a nonsupportive teacher are proposed risk factors for developing math anxiety — related
- Working memory fully mediates the effects of math anxiety and attention on children's non-verbal Numerical Operations — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
math-anxiety-compromises-working-memory-when-aroused |
title |
Math anxiety compromises working memory only when the anxiety is aroused by computation-based tasks, not on verbal span assessments |
description |
Math anxiety compromises working memory only when the anxiety is aroused by computation-based tasks, not on verbal span assessments |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2007 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-17 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
2 — mark-h-ashcraft-and-jeremy-a-krause-2007, mark-h-ashcraft-and-jeremy-a-krause-2007-2 |
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