Does PASAT help with multiplication division, and subtraction?
Here's an interesting study I came across on the PASAT that relates to those cognitive functions that the PASAT aims to assess:
Link:
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Class/Psy158H/PrevHonors/Z08/literature_review.htm
This study reports a strong correlation between math ability and the PASAT, at least the arithemtic substest of the WAIS:
I think it's worth noting that the PASAT is a measure of premorbid function of those who've had head injuries and is given as "n 2" task. This study addresses PASAT 2 task, not "n 3" or more, so it's hard to know exactly what is being measured or exercised at the 3+ level -- if it continues mainly as working memory task or if other abilities are measured as well. I would assume working memory. As for how the PASAT will lead to improvement, I have no idea.
My guess is it might be more effective than the
N back but less than the dual n back. I posit this (very speculatively) because there is a visual and an auditory component to the PASAT,
but it lacks the complexity of dual n back.
The article mentions that "digit retrieval" and "math fact retrieval" seem to play a large role in the PASAT...both seem to be linked to working memory as well.
However, processing speed (reaction time) has shown not to be measured.
Here's an exerpt from the study:
"Speed of Digit Retrieval
The PASAT requires that participants attend to a series of numbers and recall the numbers heard in the list. In order for this act to be successfully completed, digits must be stored in a way that they can be easily and accurately retrieved. The present study proposes that this memory skill may play a distinct role in PASAT performance as participants sort through the digits they have heard. In order to assess for this ability, the present study created an experimental task that measures how quickly participants can identify which digits appear on an original list of double digits that appear serially on a computer screen.
Speed of Math Fact Retrieval
Mathematical ability has also been found to correlate strongly with PASAT scores (Egan, 1988; Sherman et al., 1997); however, the tests used to assess this ability, such as the WAIS-R Arithmetic Subtest, rely heavily on other cognitive abilities, such as working memory. In order to determine whether the mathematical ability to retrieve addition facts like those presented in the PASAT uniquely contributes to PASAT performance, the present study developed another experimental task to pinpoint this ability. In this task, participants must add two single-digit numbers that appear side by side on a computer screen and orally produce an accurate sum as quickly as possible. By presenting the digits in this manner, without arithmetical signs, the present study hopes to mimic the way that participants mentally perceive addition facts when taking the PASAT."
Information Processing Speed
Sherman et al. (1997) and Dreary et al. (1991) assessed the role of information processing speed in PASAT performance. Contrary to the indications of Gronwall and Wrightson (1981), the results indicated nonsignificant correlations between the PASAT and reaction time tasks, which led the researchers to conclude that the PASAT does not measure speed of information processing. This finding was further substantiated by Potter and Barrett’s (1999) study in which electrophysiological measures were used to detect the relationship between the demands of the PASAT and the allocation of cognitive resources, including speed of cognitive processing. Their results indicated that head-injured patients do not exhibit signs of lagging cortical responses. This conclusion agrees with other previously described research arguing that head injuries related to lowered PASAT performance seem to be subcortical. From this information, the authors concluded that the lowered performance on tasks measuring the ability to shift attention as well as the ability to perform the task in a timely manner, such as the WAIS-R Digit Symbol Subtest, were due to an impaired allocation of the available mental resources, as opposed to a slowing of information processing."
Link:
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Class/Psy158H/PrevHonors/Z08/literature_review.htm
This study reports a strong correlation between math ability and the PASAT, at least the arithemtic substest of the WAIS:
I think it's worth noting that the PASAT is a measure of premorbid function of those who've had head injuries and is given as "n 2" task. This study addresses PASAT 2 task, not "n 3" or more, so it's hard to know exactly what is being measured or exercised at the 3+ level -- if it continues mainly as working memory task or if other abilities are measured as well. I would assume working memory. As for how the PASAT will lead to improvement, I have no idea.
My guess is it might be more effective than the
N back but less than the dual n back. I posit this (very speculatively) because there is a visual and an auditory component to the PASAT,
but it lacks the complexity of dual n back.
The article mentions that "digit retrieval" and "math fact retrieval" seem to play a large role in the PASAT...both seem to be linked to working memory as well.
However, processing speed (reaction time) has shown not to be measured.
Here's an exerpt from the study:
"Speed of Digit Retrieval
The PASAT requires that participants attend to a series of numbers and recall the numbers heard in the list. In order for this act to be successfully completed, digits must be stored in a way that they can be easily and accurately retrieved. The present study proposes that this memory skill may play a distinct role in PASAT performance as participants sort through the digits they have heard. In order to assess for this ability, the present study created an experimental task that measures how quickly participants can identify which digits appear on an original list of double digits that appear serially on a computer screen.
Speed of Math Fact Retrieval
Mathematical ability has also been found to correlate strongly with PASAT scores (Egan, 1988; Sherman et al., 1997); however, the tests used to assess this ability, such as the WAIS-R Arithmetic Subtest, rely heavily on other cognitive abilities, such as working memory. In order to determine whether the mathematical ability to retrieve addition facts like those presented in the PASAT uniquely contributes to PASAT performance, the present study developed another experimental task to pinpoint this ability. In this task, participants must add two single-digit numbers that appear side by side on a computer screen and orally produce an accurate sum as quickly as possible. By presenting the digits in this manner, without arithmetical signs, the present study hopes to mimic the way that participants mentally perceive addition facts when taking the PASAT."
Information Processing Speed
Sherman et al. (1997) and Dreary et al. (1991) assessed the role of information processing speed in PASAT performance. Contrary to the indications of Gronwall and Wrightson (1981), the results indicated nonsignificant correlations between the PASAT and reaction time tasks, which led the researchers to conclude that the PASAT does not measure speed of information processing. This finding was further substantiated by Potter and Barrett’s (1999) study in which electrophysiological measures were used to detect the relationship between the demands of the PASAT and the allocation of cognitive resources, including speed of cognitive processing. Their results indicated that head-injured patients do not exhibit signs of lagging cortical responses. This conclusion agrees with other previously described research arguing that head injuries related to lowered PASAT performance seem to be subcortical. From this information, the authors concluded that the lowered performance on tasks measuring the ability to shift attention as well as the ability to perform the task in a timely manner, such as the WAIS-R Digit Symbol Subtest, were due to an impaired allocation of the available mental resources, as opposed to a slowing of information processing."
milestones | 3 years ago
Reply
And by doing PASAT, do you find that you are able to be better at math, doing calculations much better and faster?
Kripkefine | 3 years ago
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For quick addition of small numbers, yes, because that is the same task. For multiplication, maybe some. Division and subtraction are somewhat different.
PASAT isn't all that mathy. It's working memory intensive, and requires sustained attention. Improved attention may in turn result in better calculation ability, but the same could just as well be said about doing many many practice problems: increasing focus, automating similar processes, larger chunks of information.
PASAT isn't all that mathy. It's working memory intensive, and requires sustained attention. Improved attention may in turn result in better calculation ability, but the same could just as well be said about doing many many practice problems: increasing focus, automating similar processes, larger chunks of information.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
Reply
Since dual n back also helps with working memory, what would be the point of doing PASAT if I am already doing dual n back? I.e., are there some non-redundant benefits in doing PASAT versus doing dual n back?
Thanks for your time, btw.
Thanks for your time, btw.
Kripkefine | 3 years ago
Reply
Fair question.
It depends on your purpose. No single test involves completely overlapping mechanisms, and most tests are not completely understood. n-back tests give indications of one's working memory capacity, and can be used as a training program, but it doesn't cover everything (lexical processing, for example).
You can use the PASAT to test yourself, and find out how far you can go. The side effects of doing this are two: stressing your brain on a WM-intensive task, and performing simple arithmetic (after a certain point it becomes an LTM task, which would be the realm of "expert performance" -- never hurts to reach this level).
As for a training regime, that's open-ended. There is still a lack of long-term data regarding any kind of mental training paradigm, such that even if you are basing your schedule on published research, there are no guarantees about anything. You could also spend your time doing yoga, studying chess, playing piano, or solving problem sets. These are all good things, and none of their benefits are redundant!
The biggest difference is how much and how quickly your practice becomes useful in some area of your life. This is actually the question everybody is trying to answer :)
I guess my "answer" is, try it out, for fun; stop if you get bored. If you keep doing the dual n-back exercise though, revisit the PASAT after a while, and see if you got better at it. If you do, that's good news.
It depends on your purpose. No single test involves completely overlapping mechanisms, and most tests are not completely understood. n-back tests give indications of one's working memory capacity, and can be used as a training program, but it doesn't cover everything (lexical processing, for example).
You can use the PASAT to test yourself, and find out how far you can go. The side effects of doing this are two: stressing your brain on a WM-intensive task, and performing simple arithmetic (after a certain point it becomes an LTM task, which would be the realm of "expert performance" -- never hurts to reach this level).
As for a training regime, that's open-ended. There is still a lack of long-term data regarding any kind of mental training paradigm, such that even if you are basing your schedule on published research, there are no guarantees about anything. You could also spend your time doing yoga, studying chess, playing piano, or solving problem sets. These are all good things, and none of their benefits are redundant!
The biggest difference is how much and how quickly your practice becomes useful in some area of your life. This is actually the question everybody is trying to answer :)
I guess my "answer" is, try it out, for fun; stop if you get bored. If you keep doing the dual n-back exercise though, revisit the PASAT after a while, and see if you got better at it. If you do, that's good news.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
Reply
Multiplication is repeated addition, so the PASAT trains at least one usefulish strategy.
I'm not surprised that the PASAT correlates highly with arithmetic tests, being itself an arithmetic test.
I wonder what the correlation is between success at arithmetic and aptitude for mathematics at university level.
I'm not surprised that the PASAT correlates highly with arithmetic tests, being itself an arithmetic test.
I wonder what the correlation is between success at arithmetic and aptitude for mathematics at university level.
cevapcici | 3 years ago
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