School Neuropsychology - Math

Question 1

What are the 3 subtypes of Dyscalculia

Answer 1

1. Verbal - poor math fluency/ over reliance on manipulatives
2. Procedural - difficulty recalling algorithm, sequences, steps
3. Semantic (visual-spatial) - difficulty in number alignment, magnitiudes.

Question 2

What are some reasons why there have been a decline in math in the US?

Answer 2

• Not enough math instruction
• Dry and boring
• Too much focus on procedural knowledge (conceptual understanding)
• Teacher training

Question 3

Define Math Leanring Disability (MLD)

Answer 3

Generic term referring to children who have a math performance that is substantially lower than age and grade expectations. Unexpected underachievement.

Question 4

Dyscalculia indicates that a child has specific math related deficits in what areas?

Answer 4

1. Language retrieval (learning & retrieving math facts)
2. Symbolic working memory (executing math calculation procedures)
3. Executive functioning (basic number sense and concept development)
4. Visual-spatial memory (visualizing magnitude representations)

Question 5

Up to 20% of school age children have MLD - True or False?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Would a student with MLD be slower when comparing magnitude of numbers and identifying numbers?

Answer 6

Yes/True

Question 7

Why should math problems be displayed vertically and not horizontally?

Answer 7

It activates the visual-spatial sketchpad when presented vertically. Slower when phonological loop activated (vertical)

Question 8

What are some math interventions to help with working memory?

Answer 8

Number line, use of paper and pencil, reduce anxiety, use mnemonics, use games to increase number sense.

Question 9

Poor attention to operational signs and place value mis-aligned are related to what part of the brain?

Answer 9

Anterior Cingulate/Subcortical Structures

Question 10

Planning skills in math (selection of math process, determining salient info in word problems - is associated with what brain structure?

Answer 10

Dorsal lateral PFC

Question 11

The Dorsal-lateral PFC is involved …?

Answer 11

Organizational skills, self-monitoring, pattern recognition

Question 13

Anxiety/stress impacts what two areas of functioning that in turn impact math performance?

Answer 13

Working memory and executive functioning (amygdala to PFC connection altered)

Question 14

When you have too much cortisol - what condition is caused?

Answer 14

Cushings’s syndrome

Question 15

Too little cortisol causes what disease?

Answer 15

Addison’s Disease

Question 16

Causes of math anxiety include…?

Answer 16

Timed tests, pop quizzes, being called to write on the board, teaching too quickly, no visual cues, no ability to ask questions, poor instruction.

Question 17

What and the 4 neurocognitive factors involved in building a math brain?

Answer 17

1. Approximate number system
2. Connectivity
3. Automaticity
4. Quantitative knowledge

Question 18

What neurocognitive factor is related to the ability to judge which line is the shortest?

Answer 18

Approximate number system

Question 19

Activation of the inferior parietal sulcus helps with …

Answer 19

symbolic processing, sequencing, working memory of digits.

Question 20

Symbolic processing of information is related to which neurocognitive factor?

Answer 20

Connectivity

Question 21

What part of the brain is related to non symbolic or the magnitude representation of numbers?

Answer 21

Right hemisphere - intraparietal sulcus.

Question 22

The left angular gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus and involved in what types of digit processing?

Answer 22

Symbolic processing of digits and automatic fact retrieval.

Question 23

What is the Distance Effect?

Answer 23

When presented with two numbers and asked which is larger, people tend to respond faster when the numbers are far apart.

Question 24

What is Weber’s Law

Answer 24

When asking to compare numbers and numbers are larger, responses tend to be slower and less accurate.

Question 25

Reaction time to comparing number often predicts…?

Answer 25

Math fluency and math fact retrieval.

Question 26

As math fact retrieval becomes more automatic - the processing occurs where in the brain?

Answer 26

Posterior brain regions such ad the angular gyrus.

Question 27

When math fact retrieval occurs in the anterior cingulate gyrus, it is effortful and slow - True or False?

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Quantitative Knowledge is the key for…?

Answer 28

Higher level math skills (complex math, cognitive flexibility for problem solving)

Question 29

Quantitative knowledge is dependent on which frontal lobe constructs?

Answer 29

Symbolic reasoning and executive functioning skills

Question 30

Procedural Dyscalculia is described as having difficulty with what?

Answer 30

Counting, ordering , sequencing, recalling sequence of steps or algorithm, confusion with long division, place value, partial development of number sense.

Question 31

An over-reliance on manipulatives, impaired multiplication and addition, poor math fluency are related to what type of dyscalculia?

Answer 31

Verbal Dyscalculia

Question 32

Difficulty aligning numbers in columns, estimating, recognizing patterns with objects, magnitude representations are associated with which type of dyscalculia?

Answer 32

Semantic (visual-spatial) Dyscalculia

Question 33

Poor number sense, an inability to transcode math operations, and difficulty evaluating the plausibility of a response are all related to what type of dsycalculia?

Answer 33

Semantic Dyscalculia (conceptual)