Mathematical abilities in elementary school: Do they relate to number-space associations?

- We measure number-space associations and math skills in grade 3-4.
- Strong SNARC effects relate to better arithmetic but not visuospatial math skills.
- Age moderates the relation between the SNARC effect and arithmetic skills.
- Number-space associations relate to arithmetic skills only in younger children.

Considering the importance of mathematics in Western societies, it is crucial to understand the cognitive processes involved in the acquisition of more complex mathematical skills. The current study, therefore, investigated how the quality of number-space mappings on the mental number line, as indexed by the parity SNARC (spatial-numerical association of response codes) effect, relates to mathematical performances in third- and fourth-grade elementary school children. Mathematical competencies were determined using the “Heidelberger Rechentest,” a standardized German math test assessing both arithmetical and visuospatial math components. Stronger parity SNARC effects significantly related to better arithmetical but not visuospatial math abilities, albeit only in the relatively younger children. These findings highlight the importance of spatial-numerical interactions for arithmetical (as opposed to visuospatial) math skills at the fairly early stages of mathematical development. Differential relations might be explained by the reliance on problem-solving strategies involving number-space mappings only for arithmetic tasks mainly in younger children.