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Decision Dynamics in Early Numerical Estimation : Evidence from the Dual-NLET and Drift Diffusion Modeling

Morell-Ruiz, Maybí LU ; Ternblad, Eva Maria LU ; Tärning, Betty LU ; Holmer, Sonja LU ; Haake, Magnus LU and Gulz, Agneta LU (2026) In Journal of Intelligence 14(3).
Abstract

The present study examined the cognitive mechanisms underlying decision-making in number-line estimation in 26 preschoolers through the lens of the evidence-accumulation paradigm. Children completed a traditional Number Line Estimation Task (NLET) and the Numeracy Screener test, which assessed symbolic and nonsymbolic abilities. They also completed a novel two-alternative forced-choice version of the Number Line Estimation Task (dual-NLET), which is introduced in this study as a tool for investigating decision-making processes in number-line estimation by enabling two-choice diffusion modeling. Results showed that accuracy in the traditional NLET correlated with both accuracy and decision efficiency in the dual task. Moreover, symbolic... (More)

The present study examined the cognitive mechanisms underlying decision-making in number-line estimation in 26 preschoolers through the lens of the evidence-accumulation paradigm. Children completed a traditional Number Line Estimation Task (NLET) and the Numeracy Screener test, which assessed symbolic and nonsymbolic abilities. They also completed a novel two-alternative forced-choice version of the Number Line Estimation Task (dual-NLET), which is introduced in this study as a tool for investigating decision-making processes in number-line estimation by enabling two-choice diffusion modeling. Results showed that accuracy in the traditional NLET correlated with both accuracy and decision efficiency in the dual task. Moreover, symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical abilities were differentially associated with distinct decision-making aspects: symbolic skills correlated with decision efficiency, while nonsymbolic skills correlated with decision threshold. These findings provide new insights into the roles of symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical systems in number-line decision-making and support the utility of the evidence-accumulation approach in developmental numerical cognition research.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Approximate Number System, decision-making, developmental numerical cognition, diffusion modeling, evidence accumulation paradigm, Number-Line Estimation, Symbolic Number System
in
Journal of Intelligence
volume
14
issue
3
article number
35
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:41892877
  • scopus:105033991504
ISSN
2079-3200
DOI
10.3390/jintelligence14030035
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3bbb8d66-3184-42be-92f1-70c81fd1d4a0
date added to LUP
2026-06-15 10:17:53
date last changed
2026-09-08 22:40:19
@article{3bbb8d66-3184-42be-92f1-70c81fd1d4a0,
  abstract     = {{<p>The present study examined the cognitive mechanisms underlying decision-making in number-line estimation in 26 preschoolers through the lens of the evidence-accumulation paradigm. Children completed a traditional Number Line Estimation Task (NLET) and the Numeracy Screener test, which assessed symbolic and nonsymbolic abilities. They also completed a novel two-alternative forced-choice version of the Number Line Estimation Task (dual-NLET), which is introduced in this study as a tool for investigating decision-making processes in number-line estimation by enabling two-choice diffusion modeling. Results showed that accuracy in the traditional NLET correlated with both accuracy and decision efficiency in the dual task. Moreover, symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical abilities were differentially associated with distinct decision-making aspects: symbolic skills correlated with decision efficiency, while nonsymbolic skills correlated with decision threshold. These findings provide new insights into the roles of symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical systems in number-line decision-making and support the utility of the evidence-accumulation approach in developmental numerical cognition research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Morell-Ruiz, Maybí and Ternblad, Eva Maria and Tärning, Betty and Holmer, Sonja and Haake, Magnus and Gulz, Agneta}},
  issn         = {{2079-3200}},
  keywords     = {{Approximate Number System; decision-making; developmental numerical cognition; diffusion modeling; evidence accumulation paradigm; Number-Line Estimation; Symbolic Number System}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Journal of Intelligence}},
  title        = {{Decision Dynamics in Early Numerical Estimation : Evidence from the Dual-NLET and Drift Diffusion Modeling}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence14030035}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/jintelligence14030035}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}