The Unique Role of Spatial Working Memory for Mathematics Performance

Abstract: We explored the multi-dimensionality of mathematics and working memory (WM) by examining the differential relationships between different areas of mathematics with visual, spatial, and verbal WM. Previous research proposed that visuospatial WM is a unique predictor of mathematics, but neuroimaging and cognitive research suggest divisions within visuospatial WM. We created a new WM task to isolate visuospatial WM’s visual and spatial components and maintained consistent design across tasks and found that spatial WM predicted mathematics and visual WM did not. We also found that verbal WM predicted all mathematics areas included, while spatial WM was a unique predictor of numerical understanding and geometry, not arithmetic and estimation. These findings integrate previous neuroimaging, cognitive and educational psychology research and further our understanding of the relationship between WM and mathematics. https://jnc.psychopen.eu/index.php/jnc/article/view/7159

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: The Unique Role of Spatial Working Memory for Mathematics Performance ; volume:8 ; number:1 ; day:31 ; month:03 ; year:2022 ; Journal of numerical cognition ; 8, Heft 1 (31.03.2022)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Silverman, Sarit ; Ashkenazi, Sarit

Further information

• DOI: 10.5964/jnc.7159
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022051405105240537560
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:36 AM CEST