Decoding numeracy and literacy in the human brain: insights from MEG and MVPA

This study investigates the temporal dynamics of number and letter processing using magnetoencephalography (MEG) data from two experiments with 25 participants each. The results reveal an early dissociation (~100 ms) between numbers and letters compared to false fonts. Number processing remains consistent when presented as isolated items or in strings, while letter processing exhibits distinct classification accuracy for single items versus strings. The findings suggest that early visual processing is differentially influenced by experiences with numbers and letters, with a stronger dissociation observed for strings. This research was funded by Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Business and Local Government Data Research Centre under Grant ES/S007156/1.