Developmental Change of Approximate Number System Acuity (Keenness) Reveals Delay

The ability to process numbers approximately also called, approximate number system (ANS) is related and predictive of school mathematics performance. This system is functional since birth and continue to become more precise throughout the development. Developmental change of approximate number system over the growing years has not been investigated in Pakistan so the current study bridged this gap by investigating it from 261 participants ranging from 5 to 72 years of age. Panamath task being the robust measure of ANS acuity was administered. Results revealed that numerical acuity got precise with an increase in age. However, most sophisticated acuity has been shown around age 46-50 as compared to the western population showing its peak around 30 years of age. Delay in developing approximate number system acuity across the groups as compared to the trend reported in the western population raises many questions in terms of cultural variations and practices contributing to the development of number sense. The study has important implications for the development of number sense cross-culturally keeping in view the evidence from various cultures.