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A rational explanation for links between the ANS and math

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2021

Melissa E. Libertus
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Shirley Duong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Danielle Fox
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Leanne Elliott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Rebecca McGregor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Andrew Ribner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010
Alex M. Silver
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15260, USA. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=530, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2004, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2039, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=1802, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=3135, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2031, https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/people/researcher-detail.cshtml?id=2010

Abstract

The proposal by Clarke and Beck offers a new explanation for the association between the approximate number system (ANS) and math. Previous explanations have largely relied on developmental arguments, an underspecified notion of the ANS as an “error detection mechanism,” or affective factors. The proposal that the ANS represents rational numbers suggests that it may directly support a broader range of math skills.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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