Behavioural indices of qualitative change in children's spatial and computation reasoning strategies

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Behavioural indices of qualitative change in children's spatial and computation reasoning strategies Jacob Paul1* and Robert Reeve1 1 University of Melbourne, Australia Background It is claimed that the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), as part of a frontal-parietal network, is activated in numerical computation, spatial reasoning and executive function processing. IPS network activation suggests that system-dependent indices are likely to be correlated. If this is correct, we would expect computation ability, spatial representation and executive function abilities to be related; and, if, as some claim, the IPS is partially independent of other neural systems, we would not expect IPS-related behavioural indices to be related to general behavioural indices. In the present research we test these claims. We are also interested in the associated overlap in the sophistication of spatial and computation reasoning strategies. While changes in IPS activation with maturity and problem solving ability are well documented, these changes have little to say about qualitative changes in cognitive functions (e.g., cognitive strategies). Measures We assessed 144 5-9 year-olds mental addition abilities/strategies, spatial reasoning (via the Porteus Maze task), visuo-spatial working memory (WM), non-verbal IQ and basic RT (the latter two measures are indices of general cognitive functioning). Of particular interest were changes in spatial reasoning and mental addition problem solving strategy sophistication. Results Using latent class cluster analyses, we identified four computation strategy profiles and four spatial reasoning profiles. Multinomial logistic regression confirmed that membership of a specific spatial reasoning profile and the capacity of visuo-spatial-WM predicted differences in the computation strategy profiles; and in contrast, general measures of cognitive maturity (IQ and RT) did not contribute to this prediction. Discussion The findings provide compelling evidence of a link between computation and spatial reasoning strategy sophistication, predicted by claims of behavioural indices associated with activation of IPS. The patterns of findings suggest we need more neurobiological information about sensitive periods in parietal function changes. Until neuroimaging techniques can reveal information about qualitative changes in cognitive reasoning strategies, behavioural indices will remain important. Keywords: cognitive strategy, mental addition, spatial reasoning, executive functions, latent class mixture modeling Conference: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Executive Processes Citation: Paul J and Reeve R (2013). Behavioural indices of qualitative change in children's spatial and computation reasoning strategies. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00020 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Oct 2013; Published Online: 25 Nov 2013. * Correspondence: Mr. Jacob Paul, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, jacobpaul88@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jacob Paul Robert Reeve Google Jacob Paul Robert Reeve Google Scholar Jacob Paul Robert Reeve PubMed Jacob Paul Robert Reeve Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.