Abstract

When learning the meaning of symbolic numbers, children learn the numbers up to 4 sequentially. A prominent account of this learning process proposes that the increasing sensitivity of the preverbal approximate number system (ANS) allows for reliable discrimination of increasingly large neighboring numbers, which, consequently, leads to the sequential acquisition of the first symbolic numbers. In this work, a more complete quantitative description of this account is provided. This description is based on the mathematical model of the ANS and on additional relevant parameter values reported in the literature. The quantitative description demonstrates that, in the time period during which children learn the meaning of the first number words, the improvement of ANS sensitivity cannot provide the assumed changes in the discriminability of these numbers. The present result challenges the role of the ANS as a leading factor in the acquisition of the first symbolic numbers.

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

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.