Working memory and symbolic number processing are both linked to adult arithmetic and numeracy, replicating prior research¶
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Evidence · 1 study · associationalr1·q3
Currency · newest study 2019 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
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q3 i? The study replicated established links between WM, symbolic number processing, and both arithmetic and numeracy in adults. → Skagerlund K 2019
Evidence¶
Skagerlund K 2019¶
Skagerlund K, Östergren R, Västfjäll D, Träff U (2019) How does mathematics anxiety impair mathematical abilities? Investigating the link between math anxiety, working memory, and number processing. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0211283. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211283
q3 · i? · associational · r1
Authors' summary of the fitted SEM results (N = 170 adults): WM and symbolic number processing (one- and two-digit comparison) both predicted arithmetic and numeracy. Descriptive correlations in Table 1 include arithmetic–2-DC r = -.48 and arithmetic–WM subtests r = .40–.45.
"As expected, we replicated previous research establishing strong links between WM, numeracy and arithmetic ability (e.g., [20]). Similarly, we replicate findings that have established links between symbolic number processing and arithmetic and numeracy in adults [41]."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Math anxiety impairs numeracy primarily through working memory, with no significant indirect effect through number processing — related
- The relative strength of MA's pathways varies by mathematical task type: WM dominates for numeracy, both WM and number processing operate for arithmetic — related
- Math anxiety has a statistically significant indirect effect on arithmetic calculation through symbolic number processing — related
- Math anxiety has a direct effect on arithmetic calculation above and beyond the indirect pathways — related
- Math anxiety has a statistically significant indirect effect on arithmetic calculation through working memory (affective drop pathway) — related
- Non-symbolic magnitude processing shows mixed associations with inhibition measures — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
wm-np-predict-adult-math |
title |
Working memory and symbolic number processing are both linked to adult arithmetic and numeracy, replicating prior research |
description |
Working memory and symbolic number processing are both linked to adult arithmetic and numeracy, replicating prior research |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2019 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-17 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — skagerlund-k-2019 |
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