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The underlying structure of visuospatial working memory in children with mathematical learning disability.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Mammarella, Irene C  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6986-4793
Caviola, Sara 
Giofrè, David 
Szűcs, Dénes 

Abstract

This study examined visual, spatial-sequential, and spatial-simultaneous working memory (WM) performance in children with mathematical learning disability (MLD) and low mathematics achievement (LMA) compared with typically developing (TD) children. Groups were matched on reading decoding performance and verbal intelligence. Besides statistical significance testing, we used bootstrap confidence interval estimation and computed effect sizes. Children were individually tested with six computerized tasks, two for each visuospatial WM subcomponent. We found that both MLD and LMA children had low visuospatial WM function in both spatial-simultaneous and spatial-sequential WM tasks. The WM deficit was most expressed in MLD children and less in LMA children. This suggests that WM scores are distributed along a continuum with TD children achieving top scores and MLD children achieving low scores. The theoretical and practical significance of findings is discussed. Statement of Contribution What is already known on this subject? Working memory plays an important role in mathematical achievement. Children with mathematical learning disability (MLD) usually have low working memory resources. Conflicting results have been reported concerning the role of VSWM in individuals with MLD. What the present study adds? Children with different degree of impairment in math achievement and typically developing children were tested. Visual, spatial-sequential, and spatial-simultaneous working memory tasks were examined. Only spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous working memory tasks discriminated the two impairments groups.

Description

Keywords

developmental dyscalculia, low mathematics achievement, mathematical learning disability, visuospatial working memory, Academic Success, Child, Dyscalculia, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Space Perception, Spatial Memory, Visual Perception

Journal Title

Br J Dev Psychol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0261-510X
2044-835X

Volume Title

36

Publisher

Wiley