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Considering structural connectivity in the triple code model of numerical cognition: differential connectivity for magnitude processing and arithmetic facts

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Abstract

The current study provides a generalizable account of the anatomo-functional associations as well as the connectivity of representational codes underlying numerical processing as suggested by the triple code model (TCM) of numerical cognition. By evaluating the neural networks subserving numerical cognition in two specific and substantially different numerical tasks with regard to both grey matter localizations as well as white matter tracts we (1) considered the possibility of additional memory-related cortex areas crucial for arithmetic fact retrieval (e.g., the hippocampus); (2) specified the functional involvement of prefrontal areas in number magnitude processing, and, finally; (3) identified the connections between these anatomo-functional instantiations of the representations involved in number magnitude processing and arithmetic fact retrieval employing probabilistic fiber tracking. The resulting amendments to the TCM are summarized in a schematic update, and ideas concerning the possible functional interplay between number magnitude processing and arithmetic fact retrieval are discussed.

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Notes

  1. We re-ran the analysis of tracts omitting the left-handed participant. However, since this did neither alter the results substantially nor even visibly, we decided to keep all participants.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to Klaus Willmes (Wl 1804/6-1), Hans-Otto Karnath (KA 1258/11-1), Korbinian Moeller (MO 2525/2-1), and André Knops (KN 959/2-1) as well as by the Leibniz-Competition Fund (SAW) providing funding to Elise Klein (SAW-2014-IWM-4). We are indebted to the “Brain Imaging Facility of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research within the Faculty of Medicine at the RWTH Aachen University” for their precious help in acquiring the MRI/fMRI data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Knowledge Media Research Center, Neurocognition Lab, IWM-KMRC, Schleichstr. 6, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Elise Klein, Korbinian Moeller & Hans-Christoph Nuerk

  2. Department of Neurology, Section Neuropsychology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Elise Klein & Klaus Willmes

  3. Division of Neuropsychology, Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Julia Suchan & Hans-Otto Karnath

  4. Institute of Psychology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany

    Korbinian Moeller & Hans-Christoph Nuerk

  5. Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    André Knops

  6. Institute of Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Guilherme Wood

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  1. Elise Klein
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  2. Julia Suchan
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Correspondence to Elise Klein.

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Klein, E., Suchan, J., Moeller, K. et al. Considering structural connectivity in the triple code model of numerical cognition: differential connectivity for magnitude processing and arithmetic facts. Brain Struct Funct 221, 979–995 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0951-1

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