Exploring Brain Activation of Single-Digit and Double-digit in Familiar and Unfamiliar Numerals: A Functional MRI Study

The ability to symbolise numbers using numerals is unique humans and the acquisition of this needs be done via learning [1]. Repeated exposure sensory input can result in learning-induced alterations brain, forming memory engrams that are crucial for storage retrieval [2]. Familiarity an important factor affects performance because familiar stimuli tend have stronger strength with pre-existing knowledge representation stored long-term memory, while unfamiliar or novel do not [1,3]. Past studies suggested a few putative Number Form Area (NFA), located ventral occipitotemporal gyrus, involved processing visual number symbols [4 – 6]. It has been put forward semantic information numerical might prerequisite activation NFA. However, much its remains unknown. Figure 1 presented conceptual framework present study.
 
 study aims explore brain associated single-digit double-digit. targeted population will Malaysian young adults between age ranges 18 30 years old. employ quantitative cross-sectional observational research design. In particular, within-subjects experimental design two factors: type familiarity (familiar vs. unfamiliar) digits (single-digit double-digit), used measure dependent variables including reaction time, accuracy, activations each participant all conditions: (1) single-digit, (2) double-digit, (3) (4) An fMRI block paradigm utilised, where participants double-digit (Chinese) (Arabic) during (encoding) phase asked complete forced-choice task (retrieval) phase. experiment, participants’ structural functional images collected 3-Tesla Achieva MRI Scanner (Achieva, Philips, Netherlands). Behavioural measurements such as time accuracy answer recorded based on responses given by task. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA tests performed compare mean difference conditions. undergo pre- post-processing Matlab MATLAB software, Statistical Parametric Mapping 12, CONN toolbox MarsBar toolbox.
 A significantly shorter higher expected observed compared conditions being encountered relatively often different contexts, which likely broader contexts stable mental memory. Besides, it predicted areas thalamus NFA highly engaged thalamic nuclei reported underpin [3] hold role meaningful [4]. As condition, hippocampus prefrontal cortex (PFC) thus may trigger active encoding process at more recent point after thought heavily rely subregions PFC process.
 conclusion, better performances numeral Differential neuronal