The Effects Of Working Memory Components And Approximate Number System Accuracy On Arithmetic Strategy Utilization

Individual strategy utilization is an important part in the field of arithmetical cognition development and problem solving. Strategy utilization(mainly including strategy selection and strategy execution) demonstrates the flexibility of mathematical cognitive processing, which is influenced by different individual factors, such as working memory, ANS(Approximate Number System) accuracy, arithmetic skill and so on. However the effects of working memory and ANS accuracy on strategy utilization and its mechanism remain unclear. What's more, although with the development of science and technology and cognitive neuroscience, an increasing number of experts begin to explore the basic of the individual difference of mathematical cognitive performance by means of ERP/ fMRI, such applications in the field of arithmetic strategy utilization remain to be fully expanded.In the present study, we combined the modified choice/ no choice method with dual task coordination paradigm to explore the effects of working memory and ANS accuracy on computational estimation and mental arithmetic strategy utilization. In study 1, we investigated the relationship among working memory components/ ANS accuracy and computational estimation strategy utilization with Automatic Working Memory Assessment/ Arithmetic Computational Estimation Scale and ANS tasks. In study 2, we examined the brain mechanism of the effect of central executive load and ANS accuracy on mental arithmetic strategy execution by the technique of ERPs.The major results indicated as follows:(1) Central executive component strongly predicted computational estimation strategy utilization.(2) ANS accuracy mediated the relation between the central executive load and computational estimation strategy utilization. Specifically, central executive load had an indirect effect on arithmetical estimation strategy utilization through ANS accuracy.(3) The quantile regression analyses revealed that the central executive load was a significant predictor of computational estimation strategy utilization for the 15 th and 85 th, however ANS accuracy was a significant predictor of computational estimation strategy utilization only at the highest levels(85th percentile).(4) The data from ERP suggested that under the high central executive high load condition, there were larger positive amplitudes for indirect addition strategy than for direct subtraction strategy in 50-150 ms window in the frontal area and the central area. Under high central executive high load condition, ANS accuracy, strategy type and electrodes interaction were significant. Indirect addition strategy elicited larger positive amplitudes than direct subtraction in 250-350 ms window for high ANS accuracy participants in the frontal area and the right temporal lobe.Above all, we made conclusions as follows:(1) Central executive load had an indirect effect on arithmetical estimation strategy utilization through ANS accuracy.(2) Central executive load had strong effects on computational estimation for both low strategy utilization accuracy rate and high strategy utilization accuracy rate, however ANS accuracy only affected high strategy utilization accuracy rate.(3) In the 50-150 ms, 150-250 ms, 250-1000 ms windows, under different central executive load conditions, different strategy type elicited different amplitudes and latencies for different ANS accuracy participants.