Verbal and Visual Short-Term Memory Predict Performance in a Multiplication Production Task: Evidence From a Malaysian Sample.

Abstract

Arithmetic requires the use ofmultiple cognitive processes, such as short-termmemory (STM). However, findings on the association between STM and simple multiplication solving are mixed, potentially due to large interindividual differences in multiplication proficiency within and between samples. The present study aims to explore further the relationship between visual and verbal STM and simple multiplication solving with a large Malaysian sample (N = 230). Adults (age = 17–42) completed an online production-based multiplication-solving task, STM measures (verbal and visuospatial STM tasks), and a demographic survey. A mixed-model analysis found that verbal STM and visual STM predict multiplication performance, with lower span participants having longer reaction times during multiplication solving. Interestingly, we also observed the relationship between verbal STM and multiplication was moderated by interference, the impact of verbal STM was stronger in highinterference problems, while the visual STM–multiplication relation was moderated by problem size, high visual span participants took more advantage of their visual STM when presented with large size problems. Thus, our findings show that both verbal and visual STMin interactionwith problem properties predict simplemultiplication solving in adults. Hypotheses on the concrete mechanisms involved in these relationships are discussed.