| Information processing and neuropsychological studies have identified many cognitive skills associated with arithmetic ability in children, although few studies have attempted to identify the cognitive skills that best predict arithmetic ability. The goal of the present study was to determine which cognitive neuropsychological skills best predicted performance on measures of arithmetic achievement requiring both basic computation skill and arithmetical problem-solving ability. Participants were 183 children (110 males) referred for evaluation due to learning difficulties in school. All participants received measures of intellectual functioning (WISC-R or WISC-III), academic achievement (WJ-R subtests), and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Standard and hierarchical regression analyses were performed on each measure of arithmetic achievement. Results showed that computation skill, as measured by the WJ-R Calculation subtest, was predicted by performance on measures of reading comprehension, attention/working memory, verbal knowledge, and fine-motor speed. Problem-solving ability, as measured by the WJ-R Applied Problems subtest, was predicted by performance on measures of long-term retrieval, reading comprehension, attention/working memory, verbal knowledge, and visual-spatial-motor ability. Measures of nonverbal reasoning and fine-motor dexterity were not predictive of either type of arithmetic skill. |