Abstract
BackgroundThe current view in numerical cognition research is that multiplication facts are stored and retrieved in a phonological code. Consistent with this view, it was found that multiplication could be impaired by a phonological but not by a visuo-spatial loading task. However, because the authors used an active production task, it remained unclear whether concurrent articulation impaired either access to multiplication facts or their retrieval.MethodsIn the current study, we investigated the influence of concurrent articulation on multiplication fact knowledge without active production of multiplication results.ResultsIn a number bisection task, number triplets, which are part of a multiplication table, were classified faster as being correctly bisected than other triplets. Interestingly, concurrent articulation led to a relative slowing of the multiplicative triplets which reduced the multiplicativity effect.ConclusionsThis result indicates that concurrent articulation modulates access to phonologically stored multiplication facts and corroborates the notion of multiplication facts being represented in an at least partially verbal code.
Highlights
According to the most influential model of number processing, the Triple Code Model by Dehaene and colleagues [1,2,3,4], numerical cognition rests on the representation of numerical magnitude and its further processing by arithmetic procedures, as well as on arithmetical facts stored in long-term memory
As the current study aimed at investigating the influence of concurrent articulation on the retrieval of multiplication facts, only data for the correctly bisected triplets were analysed for specific effects of concurrent articulation on the processing of multiplicative triplets
We were not concerned with the effect of articulatory suppression on overall performance
Summary
According to the most influential model of number processing, the Triple Code Model by Dehaene and colleagues [1,2,3,4], numerical cognition rests on the representation of numerical magnitude and its further processing by arithmetic procedures, as well as on arithmetical facts stored in long-term memory. Multiplication with small numbers may even be carried out without explicitly activating the magnitude code of the numbers; instead, the correct result may be accessed directly and retrieved from memory [2,3,5]. The latter account has been described as the phonological storage hypothesis of multiplication facts. The current view in numerical cognition research is that multiplication facts are stored and retrieved in a phonological code Consistent with this view, it was found that multiplication could be impaired by a phonological but not by a visuo-spatial loading task. Because the authors used an active production task, it remained unclear whether concurrent articulation impaired either access to multiplication facts or their retrieval
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
