Cálculo mental en niños y su relación con habilidades cognitivas / Mental arithmetic in children and its relation to cognitive abilities

Resumen: Este trabajo buscó analizar si las variables memoria de trabajo (MT) verbal, MT visoespacial, velocidad de procesamiento y habilidad verbal pueden predecir la habilidad de los niños para el cálculo mental durante la realización de problemas aritméticos simples. Se administraron los subtests Vocabulario y Span de Dígitos del WISC-III; el subtest Casita de Animales del WPPSI-R y una prueba de problemas aritméticos (ad hoc) a 70 niños de 6 años. Un análisis de regresión lineal con el método stepwise mostró que solo la MT visoespacial predijo la variabilidad en las puntuaciones de cálculo mental (t=4.72; p<0.001; β=0.50). Los resultados son contrarios a estudios realizados en adultos y niños mayores en los cuales el mayor peso recae sobre la MT verbal. Es posible que a medida que los niños crecen la automatización de ciertos procesos de conteo y el almacenamiento de hechos aritméticos en la memoria de largo plazo produzca que dependan en mayor medida de la MT verbal para la resolución de este tipo de cálculos.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze whether verbal working memory (WM), visual-spatial WM, processing speed, and verbal ability predicted children's ability to perform mental arithmetic. Five tests were administered to 70 6-years-old children: the Vocabulary and Digits Span subtests from the WISC-III Intelligence Scale, the Animal Pegs subtest from WPPSI-R, and an arithmetic test (ad hoc). A linear regression analysis showed that only visual-spatial WM predicted the variability in children's scores in the arithmetic test (t=4.72; P<.001; β=.50). These findings contradict studies carried out in adults and older children where verbal WM seemed to play a greater role in the subject's ability to conduct calculations without external aids. It is possible that as they grow older, the automation of certain counting processes, as well as the storage and recovery of arithmetic knowledge from long-term memory will cause them to rely primarily on verbal WM resources.

Study on the features extraction of ERP evoked by the mental arithmetic tasks based on the sample entropy / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To study the feature extraction methods for the event related potential (ERP) evoked by mental arithmetical tasks through the sample entropy, in order to enhance the features of electroencephalograph (EEG) signals for brain computer interface (BCI).Methods Three types of mental arithmetic tasks including a simple counting, a random number and a stroke of Chinese character counting were proposed and 16 channel EEG signals were recorded from eight healthy subjects.The sample entropy method was then applied in characteristic signal complexity analysis.The characteristic and difference of signal complexity of ERP evoked by three types of mental arithmetical tasks were explored.Results The entropy value for EEG signal evoked by non-target stimulus was higher than that by the target stimulus with the significant difference (P＜0.01).The entropy of the mental arithmetic based on the Chinese characters counting task was significandy higher than that of the other two tasks (P＜0.05).EEG signals evoked by target/non-target were fundamentally signals under the state of attention or non-attention.Conclusions For the Chinese characters counting task, more complex information have been processed by the brain and the non-linear connection between nerve cells are much more complicated and a higher entropy value is achieved.In summary, the mental arithmetic task can effectively activate the relevant brain regions and the sample entropy can distinguish signals evoked by target or non-target stimuli.

Comparative ERP and behavior study of ADHD and normal children in mental arithmetic practice / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To compare the differences of event-related potentials (ERP) of left and right cerebral hemispheres and behavioral characteristics in the mental arithmetic practice between ADHD and normal children,and to explore the neural mechanisms of mental arithmetic by ADHD children.Methods ERP and behavioral data of 32 ADHD and 32 normal children in mental arithmetic,to illustrate,simple addition,subtraction and multiplication within 20 were recorded.Results ERP:① The differences of N2 amplitudes in ADHD children 's left and right cerebral hemispheres while doing mental arithmetic,such as,addition,subtraction and multiplication were not statistically significant (addition:(-6.2±7.3) μV,(-6.6± 8.1) pV ; subtraction:(-5.5±6.4) μV,(-5.8± 6.5) μV ; multiplication:(-5.9± 8.2) μV,(-6.0± 8.6) μV ; all P＞0.05).However,normal group's N2 amplitude of left hemisphere(F3) were obviously higher than those of the right hemisphere (F4),considered to be statistically significant difference (addition:(-6.8±4.0) μV,(-5.9±4.3) μV ; subtraction:(-7.5±4.8) μV,(-6.3±4.4) μV ;multiplication:(-6.9±3.7)μV,(-5.7±4.4)pV ; all P＜0.05).② ADHD group's N2 amplitude of subtraction practice was significantly lower than that of addition and multiplication,while normal control group was the opposite.③There were not statistically difference between N2 incubation of left and right hemisphere while addition,subtraction,and multiplication were done (P＞0.05).Behaviorism:① ADHD group's reaction time towards answer making were much longer than those of the normal control group (addition:(983± 183) ms,(833± 164) ms ; subtraction:(1005±160)ms,(859±170)ms;multiphcation:(975±180)ms,(836±175)ms; P＜0.05).② Accurate rate:ADHD group were all lower than those of normal group.Conclusion There were functional limitations of no obviously advantage hemisphere and two hemisphere coordination while ADHD children were performing mental arithmetic,also hmitations in conflicting information processing,decision making,and more obviously in subtraction practice.

Family history of hypertension is associated with exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to mental, but not to physical test.

Aim To investigate whether normotensive young adults with family history of hypertension demonstrate exaggerated cardiovascular responses to both mental and physical stimuli as compared to normotensive young adults without family history of hypertension. Methods Normotensive undergraduate students of normotensive parents (n = 40) and of hypertensive father/ mother/ both (n = 40), aged 20 – 30 years, performed serial subtraction test in a sitting position for three minutes. After taking a rest, subjects performed cold pressor test in ninety seconds. In each test, blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded in pre-test, during test, and post-test using an automated oscillometric device. Changes score rather than absolute scores were analyzed using independent t-test or Mann-Whitney. Results There were no signifi cantly differences in age, body mass index, fasting blood sugar, and plasma creatinine between the two groups. Normotensives of hypertensive parents had signifi cantly higher offi ce systolic blood pressure (108.33+1.6 vs 103.00+1.6 mmHg) and delta change score of cardiovascular reactivity to serial subtraction test (MABP 19.13+1.4 vs 15.5+1.0 mmHg, P= 0.04), but not to cold pressor test (MABP 24.26+1.7 vs 21.74+1.7 mmHg) than those of normotensive parents. Conclusion Normotensive young adults with family history of hypertension demonstrated exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to mental test but not to physical test. As compared to normotensive young adults without family history of hypertension However, this familial difference in cardiovascular reactivity to mental test is confused with offi ce blood pressure.

Effect of Local Warm Stress on Psychologic Sweating / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of warm water bathing (40°C) of the hand on the psychologic sweating measured in the opposite palm. The subjects were 2 males and 4 females, aged 38±10 years (26-58 years). The psychologic sweating was estimated by the apparatus developed by Sakaguchi et al (Sakaguchi, M. et al BME 26: 213, 1988). The room temperature was 27 to 28°C and the relative humidity was 60 to 70%. The sensor was attached using adhesive tape on the right palm. Then the psychologic sweating was measured after deep respiration, mental arithmetic, hand grip, bathing in warm water of 40°C at the level of left wrist. The results showed that the mean values of palmar sweating were 15.6 for deep respiration, 16.8 for mental arithmetic, 15.5 for hand grip and 0 for warm water bathing.<br>Above results suggest that local water bathing of moderate temperature induces a decrease of psychologic sweating, probably due to relaxing effect of the cerebrum.