Age-Independent and Age-Dependent Neural Substrate for Single-Digit Multiplication and Addition Arithmetic Problems

Abstract

The present study examined developmental differences in event-related potentials between second graders and adults in arithmetic. Consistent with previous literature in adults, multiplication for both children and adults produced a greater left anterior negativity from 400 to 900 msec, whereas addition produced a greater right posterior negativity from 400 to 900 msec. Adults showed larger left anterior negativities in the time window suggesting that adults rely more than children on a verbal processing system for solving these problems. Children showed larger right posterior negativities in the time window suggesting that they rely more on quantitative manipulation for solving these problems.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by Project 30870759 and Project 60931003 by NSFC, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD059177) to JRB, Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT0710), and the program New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-07-0101).