Neurofunctional plasticity in fraction learning: An fMRI training study

Silke Wortha (1) , Johannes Bloechle (1) , Manuel Ninaus (1) , Kristian Kiili (2) , Antero Lindstedt (2) , Julia Bahnmueller (1) , Korbinian Moeller (1) , Elise Klein (3, 4)

1 Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen = Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen
2 University of Tampere [Finland]
3 LaPsyDÉ - UMR 8240 - Laboratoire de psychologie du développement et de l'éducation de l'enfant
4 Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien [Tübingen]

Background: Fractions are known to be difficult for children and adults. Behavioral studies suggest that magnitude processing of fractions can be improved via number line estimation (NLE) trainings, but little is known about the neural correlates of fraction learning. Method: To examine the neuro-cognitive foundations of fraction learning, behavioral performance and neural correlates were measured before and after a five-day NLE training. Results: In all evaluation tasks behavioral performance increased after training. We observed a fronto-parietal network associated with number magnitude processing to be recruited in all tasks as indicated by a numerical distance effect. For symbolic fractions, the distance effect on intraparietal activation was only observed after training. Conclusion: The absence of a distance effect of symbolic fractions before the training could indicate an initially less automatic access to their overall magnitude. NLE training facilitates processing of overall fraction magnitude as indicated by the distance effect in neural activation.

Mots clés: flow experience; number line estimation training; fraction processing; numerical distance effect; fMRI

Domaines: Psychologie; Education; Neurosciences

Silke Wortha, Johannes Bloechle, Manuel Ninaus, Kristian Kiili, Antero Lindstedt, et al.. Neurofunctional plasticity in fraction learning: An fMRI training study. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 2020, 21, pp.100141. ⟨10.1016/j.tine.2020.100141⟩. ⟨halshs-02947077⟩