Choice Velocity in AQS Tasks and its Relation to Symbolic Mathematics in 4th and 6th grade students

The approximate number system (ANS) and the ratio processing system (RPS) are non-symbolic cognitive structures that estimate numerical quantities from the world (from now on the AQS system, Q for rational). The AQS precision correlates with symbolic mathematics scores, though with mixed findings in the literature. At the same time, there is a robust link between motor and number processing. Consequently, we explored the influence of a motor computation in symbolic mathematics scores, namely choice velocity. Results reveal that faster students in non-symbolic AQS tasks had higher mathematic scores. Moreover, the relationship was qualitatively different at 4th and 6th grade, indicating developmental changes. From these exploratory results we propose that velocity carries a decision-making signal (e.g., confidence) and that such signal may have direct or back-door access to mathematics scores. Not accounting for such signal may explain mixed results regarding the influence of the AQS on symbolic mathematics.