@article{LindnerMoellerHildebrandtetal.2022,
  author    = {Lindner, Nadja and Moeller, Korbinian and Hildebrandt, Frauke and Hasselhorn, Marcus and Lonnemann, Jan},
  title     = {Children's use of egocentric reference frames in spatial language is related to their numerical magnitude understanding},
  series = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  publisher = {Frontiers},
  address   = {Lausanne, Schweiz},
  issn      = {1664-1078},
  doi       = {10.3389/fpsyg.2022.943191},
  pages     = {1 -- 13},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Numerical magnitude information is assumed to be spatially represented in the form of a mental number line defined with respect to a body-centred, egocentric frame of reference. In this context, spatial language skills such as mastery of verbal descriptions of spatial position (e.g., in front of, behind, to the right/left) have been proposed to be relevant for grasping spatial relations between numerical magnitudes on the mental number line. We examined 4- to 5-year-old's spatial language skills in tasks that allow responses in egocentric and allocentric frames of reference, as well as their relative understanding of numerical magnitude (assessed by a number word comparison task). In addition, we evaluated influences of children's absolute understanding of numerical magnitude assessed by their number word comprehension (montring different numbers using their fingers) and of their knowledge on numerical sequences (determining predecessors and successors as well as identifying missing dice patterns of a series). Results indicated that when considering responses that corresponded to the egocentric perspective, children's spatial language was associated significantly with their relative numerical magnitude understanding, even after controlling for covariates, such as children's SES, mental rotation skills, and also absolute magnitude understanding or knowledge on numerical sequences. This suggests that the use of egocentric reference frames in spatial language may facilitate spatial representation of numbers along a mental number line and thus seem important for preschoolers' relative understanding of numerical magnitude.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LindnerMoellerDresenetal.2022,
  author    = {Lindner, Nadja and Moeller, Korbinian and Dresen, Verena and Pixner, Silvia and Lonnemann, Jan},
  title     = {Children's spatial language skills predict their verbal number skills},
  series = {PLOS ONE},
  volume    = {17},
  journal   = {PLOS ONE},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {PLOS},
  address   = {San Francisco},
  issn      = {1932-6203},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0277026},
  pages     = {15},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {The process of number symbolization is assumed to be critically influenced by the acquisition of so-called verbal number skills (e.g., verbally reciting the number chain and naming Arabic numerals). For the acquisition of these verbal number skills, verbal and visuospatial skills are discussed as contributing factors. In this context, children's verbal number skills have been found to be associated with their concurrent spatial language skills such as mastery of verbal descriptions of spatial position (e.g., in front of, behind). In a longitudinal study with three measurement times (T1, T2, T3) at an interval of about 6 months, we evaluated the predictive role of preschool children's (mean age at T1: 3 years and 10 months) spatial language skills for the acquisition of verbal number skills. Children's spatial language skills at T2 significantly predicted their verbal number skills at T3, when controlling for influences of important covariates such as vocabulary knowledge. In addition, further analyses replicated previous results indicating that children's spatial language skills at T2 were associated with their verbal number skills at T2. Exploratory analyses further revealed that children's verbal number skills at T1 predict their spatial language at T2. Results suggests that better spatial language skills at the age of 4 years facilitate the future acquisition of verbal number skills.},
  language  = {en}
}