Neurocognitive study of children with developmental dyscalculia: follow up after six months of intervention

• Grant number: 13/12071-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Diana Pancini de Sá Antunes Ribeiro
• Grantee: Marina Cury Tonoli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is a persistent learning disability. Despite of it, there are few follow up studies in the literature, particularly considering the relationship between mathematics anxiety, working memory, scholar achievement, and mood disorders, such as anxiety. There is evidence that working memory capacity contributes to the learning of mathematics; on the other hand, math's anxiety, especially in girls, can hinder learning process. This research aims to investigate changes in the constructs of numerical cognition, in working memory systems, and mood behavior of children with DD, compared to a control group. The sample will be drawn from a previous study, FAPESP case number 11/01907-4, constituting a longitudinal study. Participants are 54 children of both sexes (41 boys and 13 girls) with a mean age of nine years, divided into two groups: children with DD (DD, n = 27), and children with typical development (DT; n = 27). All children will be assessed by instruments for the following areas: visuospatial reasoning, math's skills, working memory and mood. (AU)