Early visual deprivation does not prevent the emergence of basic numerical abilities in blind children

Studies involving congenitally blind adults shows that visual experience is not a mandatory prerequisite for the emergence of efficient numerical abilities. It remains however unknown whether developed lifelong strategies to compensate absence foundations vision would provide in infancy. We therefore assessed basic abilities and sighted children 6 13 years old. also verbal spatial working memory their relationship with mental arithmetic both groups. Blind showed similar or better as compared sighted. outperformed peers every task assessing demonstrated span. The correlation between sketchpad was stronger relative while correlations other two components (the central executive phonological loop) were affected by early experience. Our data suggest blindness does impair development competencies but influences associations some subcomponents.