Human cognitive neuroscience seminar

Speaker: Dr Laurence Rousselle

Topic: Magnitude processing in people with genetic syndrome: about the influence of non numerical abilities on basic number processing

Abstract: It has been assumed that mathematics learning disabilities, including those of genetic origin, result from a basic impairment of number magnitude processing (Krajcsi et al., 2009; O’Hearn & Landau, 2007; Paterson et al., 2006). However, the processing of number magnitude not only involves numerical but also non-numerical abilities (i.e. visuo-spatial processing, working memory, visuo-spatial attention) whose respective contribution to basic number magnitude processing has often been neglected. I will present a series of experiment in which we tested the contribution of visuo-spatial processing and working memory to basic number magnitude processing in three genetic syndromes, namely, Williams syndrome, Turner syndrome and 22q11 deletion syndrome. These genetic syndromes are known to be particularly at risk of math learning disabilities and as such, they represent a unique opportunity to test how their particular cognitive profile contribute to their basic number processing impairment.