Abstract
The association between numerical and spatial thinking manifests itself throughout
various cognitive observations, concerning arithmetic problem solving as well as simple
number recognition tasks. The spatial component in numerical thinking is assumed to
represent the semantic processing pathway, for example, the mental representation
of numerical magnitude. There is an interconnection of semantic, linguistic, and visual/symbolic
pathways, which is thought to be stronger in adults than in children. During childhood,
the semantic pathway is supposed to play a major part in numerical processing. In
this study, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm combining
a mental rotation task with a number processing task. The behavioral data showed the
highest error rate for two-digit numbers (not for three-digit numbers). In regard
to two-digit numbers, we also found the strongest neuronal activation overlap for
number processing and mental rotation in the left intraparietal sulcus. This pattern
suggests that the mental inversion of digits in native German speakers might be a
spatial function related to mental rotation. In terms of overcoming opposed informational
input for symbolic and linguistic representation and therefore impeded informational
extraction the spatial processing pathway might play a major role. To conclude, spatial
training could be an effective educational approach, supporting the interconnection
of numerical processing pathways.
Keywords
number recognition - mental rotation - fMRI - two-digit numbers - childhood
