Deductive Reasoning and Math Learning Difficulty

Most studies to date that have examined the factors underlying math achievement in children have focused on basic numerical knowledge. Yet, math skills are clearly not limited to basic numerical knowledge and recent behavioral studies suggest a relationship between math and deductive reasoning skills. The goal of this study is to determine the neural mediators of this relationship using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The investigators will ask children from 8 to 14 to complete a standardized math achievement test, and measure their brain activity while they process deductive arguments. The investigators will then correlate brain activity during reasoning to individual math skills to identify the brain regions in which activity during reasoning is modulated by math skill.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

8 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CH le Vinatier

Bron, 69678, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Girl or boy between 8 and 14
Right-handed
Affiliated to the French social security
Whose parents gave informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Neurological disorders
Psychiatric disorders
Birth complications requiring admission into neonatal intensive care unit
Medication affecting central nervous system processing
Significant hearing impairment
Uncorrected visual impairment
Non-native French speaker
Contraindications for MRI

Treatment and study plan

fMRI

Other

All participants are scanned while evaluating deductive reasoning problems. Their math skill is also assessed.

Other names: fMRI scanning

Primary outcomes

Correlation between brain activity during deductive reasoning and math skill 18 to 24 months later

Time frame: 18 to 24 months after scanning

Brain activity measured using fMRI and math skill measured using a standardized test 18 to 24 months after scanning

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Deductive Reasoning and Math Learning Difficulty: an fMRI Study in Children

Important dates

Study start: 2015
Primary completion: 2018
Study completion: 2018
First posted: Feb 23, 2017
Registry last updated: Sep 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed