ArticleAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2025
Dedifferentiation and Transfer in Executive Function and Math Ability Following a Five-Year Abacus Training in Schoolchildren.
Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Impact of a physical-cognitive intervention on emotional regulation and school adjustment in primary school children.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Cognitive training shapes brain plasticity and schematic representations.Behavioral and brain functions : BBF · 2025Review
- Dedifferentiation and Transfer in Executive Function and Math Ability Following a Five-Year Abacus Training in Schoolchildren.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Article
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6 authors.
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Abstract
The cognitive differentiation of executive function (EF) and mathematical ability during child development, characterized by their decreasing correlation, is well established. However, the impact of long-term cognitive training on this developmental effect remains largely unexplored. The present study investigated this by analyzing behavioral and neuroimaging data from schoolchildren who participated in five years of abacus training. The findings indicate that, compared to the control group, the training group exhibits cognitive dedifferentiation, characterized by stronger correlations between EF and mathematical abilities, accompanied by lower inter-individual variability. These observations are consistent with the discovery of greater overlap in behavior-associated brain connectivity patterns and more uniform connectivity profiles across individuals. Furthermore, the individual-to-group similarity in connectivity pattern is significantly associated with EF and mathematical performance, suggesting a shared cognitive strategy shaped by prolonged training. The findings provide empirical evidence in support of neurocognitive plasticity, highlighting the capacity of targeted cognitive training to functionally reshape brain networks and modulate the developmental trajectory of cognitive traits.
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