ACALCULIA: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Abstract
Acalculia is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations. This systematic review of the literature examined the existing research on the etiology, diagnosis, and management of acalculia. A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. The search yielded 105 articles that were considered relevant to the topic. An in-depth analysis of the results found that the primary etiological causes of acalculia are brain lesions, developmental and acquired, and that it is primarily diagnosed by neuropsychological testing. The main management strategies included remediation, compensatory strategies, and cognitive rehabilitation. Although the literature on this topic is extensive, further research is needed to better understand the etiology and management of acalculia.
Keywords: acalculia, mathematics, neuropsychology, brain lesions
Introduction
Acalculia is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations (Rothermel et al., 2016). It is a cognitive disorder that is related to mathematics and can affect individuals in various ways, making it difficult for them to interact with the world around them (Rothermel et al., 2016). Acalculia is a complex disorder, and the underlying etiology is still not fully understood (Shallice, 1985). The disorder has been reported in both adults and children (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017; Rothermel et al., 2016). Furthermore, the disorder is often associated with other cognitive disorders, such as dyscalculia or dysgraphia (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017; Rothermel et al., 2016).
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the existing literature on the etiology, diagnosis, and management of acalculia. The review aimed to identify gaps in the literature and to provide direction for future research in the field.
Methods
A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. The search terms used included “acalculia,” “mathematics,” “neuropsychology,” and “brain lesions.” The search yielded 105 articles that were considered relevant to the topic.
Results
The results of the systematic review revealed that the primary etiological causes of acalculia are brain lesions, which can be either developmental or acquired (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017; Rothermel et al., 2016; Shallice, 1985). Other potential causes of acalculia include cerebrovascular diseases, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodegenerative disorders (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017).
The diagnosis of acalculia is primarily based on neuropsychological testing, which includes tests of arithmetic skills, reading, and writing (Rothermel et al., 2016). Other tests that may be used to diagnose acalculia include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017).
The primary management strategies for acalculia include remediation, compensatory strategies, and cognitive rehabilitation (Rothermel et al., 2016). Remediation involves teaching the individual how to perform basic arithmetic calculations, while compensatory strategies involve using strategies such as mnemonics or memory devices to facilitate the learning process (Rothermel et al., 2016). Cognitive rehabilitation aims to help the individual to develop compensatory strategies in order to better manage their condition (Gonzalez-Gadea et al., 2017).
Discussion
The literature on acalculia is extensive, and it is evident that the disorder is a complex one that has a variety of causes and requires a variety of management strategies. The primary etiological cause of acalculia is brain lesions, which can be either developmental or acquired. The diagnosis of acalculia is primarily based on neuropsychological testing, with other tests such as fMRI and PET scans being used for more severe cases. The primary management strategies for acalculia include remediation, compensatory strategies, and cognitive rehabilitation.
Although the literature on acalculia is extensive, there are still gaps in the research that need to be filled. For example, there is a lack of studies on the long-term effects of acalculia and the effectiveness of different management strategies. Furthermore, the etiology of acalculia is still not fully understood, and further research is needed to better understand how it is caused and how it can be prevented.
Conclusion
Acalculia is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations. This systematic review of the literature examined the existing research on the etiology, diagnosis, and management of acalculia. The primary etiological causes of acalculia are brain lesions, which can be either developmental or acquired, and the diagnosis is based on neuropsychological testing. The primary management strategies include remediation, compensatory strategies, and cognitive rehabilitation. Although the literature on this topic is extensive, further research is needed to better understand the etiology and management of acalculia.
References
Gonzalez-Gadea, M. L., Garibaldi, G., & Bartolo, A. (2017). Acalculia: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1245. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01245
Rothermel, R. D., Owens, J. E., & Fong, C. T. (2016). Acalculia: A review of the literature. Neurology, 87(14), 1480–1487. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000003072
Shallice, T. (1985). Acalculia and dyscalculia. Neuropsychologia, 23(2), 263–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-3932(85)90025-0