Different Language Modalities Yet Similar Cognitive Processes in Arithmetic Fact Retrieval

Abstract

Does experience with signed language impact the neurocognitive processes recruited by adults solving arithmetic problems? We used event-related potentials (ERPs) to identify the components that are modulated by operation type and problem size in Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) native signers and in hearing English-speaking participants. Participants were presented with single-digit subtraction and multiplication problems in a delayed verification task. Problem size was manipulated in small and large problems with an additional extra-large subtraction condition to equate the overall magnitude of large multiplication problems. Results show comparable behavioral results and similar ERP dissociations across groups. First, an early operation type effect is observed around 200 ms post-problem onset, suggesting that both groups have a similar attentional differentiation for processing subtraction and multiplication problems. Second, for the posterior-occipital component between 240 ms and 300 ms, subtraction problems show a similar modulation with problem size in both groups, suggesting that only subtraction problems recruit quantity-related processes. Control analyses exclude possible perceptual and cross-operation magnitude-related effects. These results are the first evidence that the two operation types rely on distinct cognitive processes within the ASL native signing population and that they are equivalent to those observed in the English-speaking population.

Arithmetic in the signing brain: Differences and similarities in arithmetic processing between deaf signers and hearing non‐signers

“…However, these effects were similar across groups; hence, we did not find stronger activation in the deaf compared to the hearing group. This corroborates findings in the recent study by Berteletti et al (2022), who used event‐related potentials to show the same attentional patterns for simple arithmetic problems in both deaf signing and hearing non‐signing adults as well as the same attentional dissociation for subtraction and multiplication. Further, we found all tasks to activate the right horizontal intraparietal sulcus significantly in both groups.…”

Deafness and early language deprivation influence arithmetic performances

“…While Andin et al (2019) failed to find behavioural group differences in reaction time and accuracy on their arithmetic task, they nevertheless highlighted differences in the neural networks deaf signers and hearing non-signers engage to calculate (but see Andin et al, 2022 ; Berteletti et al, 2022 ). Whereas language related brain regions in the left cerebral hemisphere are usually recruited for arithmetic fact retrieval ( Dehaene et al, 2003 ), stronger activation of the right horizontal intraparietal sulcus was found in deaf signers compared to hearing non-signers.…”

“…Consistently with the fact that typically developing children with higher phonological awareness are better in forming verbal representations of multiplicative relations between two numbers ( De Smedt et al, 2010 ; Berteletti et al, 2014 ), deaf children born to deaf parents who are fluent signers, do not display the same difficulties with mathematics as those with language deprivation early in development (e.g., Kritzer, 2009 ; Mousley and Kurz, 2015 ; Hrastinski and Wilbur, 2016 ). This distinction highlights an important relationship between language access and acquiring numerical concepts, or the importance of mastering sign language phonology to perform well on multiplication in the deaf signers population (e.g., Berteletti et al, 2022 ). Supplementary Figure 1 representing individual data indicates that the early deaf signers seem to be more efficient than the later deaf signers of our sample.…”

“…Mixed conclusions can also be found at the brain level. While an fMRI study showed that the right horizontal intraparietal sulcus was more activated in deaf signers as compared to hearing during multiplication operations ( Andin et al, 2019 ), more recent studies ( Andin et al, 2022 ; Berteletti et al, 2022 ) highlighted a comparable dissociation between the brain networks supporting multiplication and subtraction in deaf and hearing participants. There is therefore an urgent need to better characterise the impact deafness and its related language experience may have on arithmetic processing.…”

Challenges in Understanding Numerical Learning: Editorial for Brain Sciences Special Issue “Neurocognitive Signatures of Math (Learning) across the Lifespan and Their Interrelation with Other Aspects of Cognition and Emotion”

“…The authors suggest that this dissociation and the large inter-individual variability supports a more componential view of arithmetical ability in AA (thus mimicking the relevant literature focusing on DD). Finally, Berteletti and colleagues [ 22 ] examined whether experience with signed language impacts the neurocognitive processes in mental arithmetic using EEG in native signers and hearing speakers. Their findings showed that in native signers and hearing participants alike the neurocognitive processes of subtraction and multiplication are clearly dissociable, but comparable across the two groups.…”