Controlled attention, but not temporal storage of working memory correlates to math problem solving

Abstract

The close relationship between working memory and maths problem solving is generally accepted, but the specifics of how working memory and its subcomponents contribute to maths problem solving remain poorly understood. Tests of working memory, maths problem problem solving, calculation, and intelligence were administered to 246 university students. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the contributions of different components of working memory, including temporary storage and controlled attention. The results showed that (1) neither verbal nor spatial temporal storage made significant contributions to applied or geometric maths problem solving. (2) Verbal controlled attention significantly contributed to applied maths problem solving, but not to geometric maths problem solving, and spatial controlled attention significantly contributed to geometric maths problem solving, but not to apply maths problem solving. We concluded that the controlled attention component of working memory is a better predictor of maths problem solving ability than temporal storage.

Keywords:

• Working memory
• temporal storage
• controlled attention
• maths problem solving

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the participants that joined in our research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by The Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project (111 project) under Grant BP0719032.