Neural correlates of quantity processing of numeral classifiers.

Abstract

Objective: Classifiers play an important role in describing the quantity information of objects. Few studies have been conducted to investigate the brain organization for quantity processing of classifiers. In the current study, we investigated whether activation of numeral classifiers was specific to the bilateral inferior parietal areas, which are believed to process numerical magnitude. Method: Using functional MRI, we explored the neural correlates of numeral classifiers, as compared with those of numbers, dot arrays, and nonquantity words (i.e., tool nouns). Results: Our results showed that numeral classifiers and tool nouns elicited greater activation in the left inferior frontal lobule and left middle temporal gyrus than did numbers and dot arrays, but numbers and dot arrays had greater activation in the middle frontal gyrus, precuneus, and the superior and inferior parietal lobule in the right hemisphere. No differences were found between numeral classifiers and tool nouns. Conclusion: The results suggest that quantity processing of numeral classifiers is independent of that of numbers and dot arrays, supporting the notation-dependent hypothesis of quantity processing.

Fronto‐insular‐parietal network engagement underlying arithmetic word problem solving

“…"zhi" is the unit for animal) (Her, 2012;Li et al, 2008). A previous neuroimaging study indicated that the process of reading Chinese numeral classifiers does not involve the same brain response profiles as judging Arabic digits and dot quantities, suggesting that quantity processing of classifiers is independent of numerical processing (Cui et al, 2013). We take this as evidence that the Chinese classifiers do not elicit automatic and explicit quantity cues when reading Chinese nouns.…”

“…This manipulation allowed us to match the reading and judgment components of the two problem types such that the only difference was the need to derive a mathematical model. A previous neuroimaging study indicated that the process of reading Chinese numeral classifiers does not involve the same brain response profiles as judging Arabic digits and dot quantities, suggesting that quantity processing of classifiers is independent of numerical processing (Cui et al, 2013). The Chinese mandarin system provides suitable materials for this manipulation, because of its lack of a counting syntax (Li, Barner, & Huang, 2008).…”

Mathematical values in the processing of Chinese numeral classifiers and measure words

“…The most relevant previous study is Cui et al [ 10 ], where a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment compared the brain activities of processing classifiers with those of processing tool nouns, numbers, and dot arrays. Tool nouns are non-quantity words which refer to concrete objects used as tools, utensils, or instruments, e.g., liandao (sickle) and laba (trumpet).…”

“…One possible critical reason why Cui et al [ 10 ] did not find the IPS more activated for processing C/Ms than processing tool nouns is that their experimental materials of the so-called “classifiers” mixed up Cs and Ms and thus no distinction was made between Cs and Ms. Yet, as reviewed above, linguistic studies suggested that Cs differ significantly from Ms [e.g., 5 – 6 ].…”

“…Note also that Cui et al [ 10 ] did not use complete [Num X N] phrases, e.g. yi zhang haibao (1 C -flat poster, one poster), as stimuli in the semantic distance comparison task.…”