Words for Numbers and Transcoding Processes Reflected by ERPs during Mental Arithmetic

초록

The effect of the code conversion process of Korean script (Hangul), also known as words for numbers, was investigated using event-related potentials (ERPs) during mental arithmetic operations. Study subjects were asked to determine whether the arithmetic results of a given target stimuli were correctly matched. Visual inspection and statistics of mean ERPs showed stimulus type-dependent processing rather than task-dependent processing. Results of addition and multiplication tasks revealed that the overall temporal profiles of the Arabic numerals were similar to the Hangul words for numbers. The only exception to this observation was a delayed positive-slope peak occurring around 300 ms, which was likely related to the encoding process of Hangul words for numbers to Arabic-digits, defined as a ‘transcoding-related potential.’ Source analysis confirmed that the topography of different waveforms for the two conditions was attributed to a single dipole located in the left temporo-parietal area; this area is known to be involved in Hangul words for number processing. These results suggest that the initial processing for encoding words for numbers was followed by arithmetic operations without direct access of abstract internal number representation. Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.

키워드