OSCR

Rational numbers: A systematic review and ALE meta-analysis of the neuroimaging of fraction and decimal processing in the brain.

Overview

Authors: Isabella Starling-Alves1,2, Danielle Ann S Bonilla2, Sasha B Bandler2, Eric D Wilkey2
ORCID iDs: Isabella Starling-Alves, Danielle Ann S Bonilla, Sasha B Bandler, Eric D Wilkey
  1. Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
  2. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203 USA
Institutions: University of Nebraska–Lincoln (United States); Vanderbilt University (United States)
Journal: Psychonomic bulletin & review, volume 33, issue 5, article 174
Dates: received 26 August 2024; accepted 24 May 2026; published online 15 June 2026; in print 2026
Type: Review · Language: English
License: CC BY
Identifiers: DOI 10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y · PMID 42298233 · PMCID PMC13269167 · OpenAlex W7164831325
Open access: hybrid, a free copy (OpenAlex)
Status: data only
Categories: fMRI (modality), human (organism), cognitive (subfield)
Methods: Statistics
Keywords: Rational number processing, Fractions, Decimals, FMRI, Neuroimaging, IPS, ALE meta-analysis
MeSH: Brain*, Mathematical Concepts*, Brain Mapping, Humans, Likelihood Functions, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (* major topic)
Topic: Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills (Statistics and Probability, Mathematics), according to OpenAlex
Citations: not cited yet (Europe PMC); 126 references in the paper

Abstract

Mathematics knowledge is crucial for success in our society. Among the various mathematical areas, rational number knowledge is particularly significant for academic achievement. However, rational number knowledge is challenging, and many children and adults struggle with tasks involving fraction and decimal magnitude processing. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies to identify brain regions associated with fractions and decimals. Additionally, we synthesized fraction studies in an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis. A descriptive synthesis of studies showed that fractions and decimals are both associated with activation in the intraparietal sulcus and frontal regions. However, multivariate findings suggest that their neural representation is dissimilar. In addition, the ALE meta-analysis indicated that the IPS, the middle frontal gyrus, the middle temporal gyrus, and the precuneus are associated with fraction processing. These regions have been associated with higher order cognition, including inhibitory control and working memory, and nonsymbolic magnitude processing in previous studies. We discuss current limitations of the field, such as the small number of studies targeting decimal processing, suggesting directions for future studies.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

Code

The paper links to its data, not to its authors' code: see the Data section.

Tracing map

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Data

Datasets cited

Data Availability Statement

The search terms and protocol for the systematic review have been made available on the OSF (https://osf.io/gf254/?view_only=2a30366d355b4486ae74d7e18404bb76). No original data were used in preparing the current manuscript.

NA.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

Versions

The history of this record: each version stored by the harvester or made by a correction of its authors or of the maintainers of its code, and what changed in its facts. The texts of the paper (its abstract, its availability statements) are not part of it; versions that changed only those are not listed.

Version 2, 28 September 2026

  • Publisher: n/a → Springer Science+Business Media

Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record

Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 4 authors, 7 keywords, 6 MeSH terms, 112 references.

Cite

This paper

Starling-Alves, I., Bonilla, D. A. S., Bandler, S. B., & Wilkey, E. D. (2026). Rational numbers: A systematic review and ALE meta-analysis of the neuroimaging of fraction and decimal processing in the brain. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 33(5), 174. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y

BibTeX

@article{starlingalves2026rational,
author = {Starling-Alves, Isabella and Bonilla, Danielle Ann S and Bandler, Sasha B and Wilkey, Eric D},
title = {{Rational numbers: A systematic review and ALE meta-analysis of the neuroimaging of fraction and decimal processing in the brain}},
journal = {Psychonomic bulletin \& review},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
volume = {33},
number = {5},
pages = {174},
publisher = {Springer Science+Business Media},
issn = {1069-9384},
doi = {10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y},
pmid = {42298233},
pmcid = {PMC13269167}
}

RIS

TY - JOUR
AU - Starling-Alves, Isabella
AU - Bonilla, Danielle Ann S
AU - Bandler, Sasha B
AU - Wilkey, Eric D
TI - Rational numbers: A systematic review and ALE meta-analysis of the neuroimaging of fraction and decimal processing in the brain
T2 - Psychonomic bulletin & review
J2 - Psychon Bull Rev
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/15
VL - 33
IS - 5
SP - 174
SN - 1069-9384
PB - Springer Science+Business Media
DO - 10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y
UR - https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02939-y
LA - en
ER -

CSL-JSON

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