Abstract In this study, to investigate the influence of numerical surface forms on strategy execution in subtraction and addition, 25 college students were required to perform a mental arithmetic task. Behavioral and electroencephalography responses were recorded to explore the stages of strategy execution. Arithmetic problems were presented within 11–20 by Arabic, Chinese and English numerals, respectively. The results showed that, compared with Arabic and Chinese numerals, participants had longer RTs under the condition of English numerals. English numerals induced stronger N100, P200 and P300 amplitudes, and longer latency in P200 and P300 amplitudes than in other conditions. These findings indicated that numerical surface forms affected the execution of mental arithmetic strategies, with Chinese and English numerals being processed deeper in the brain. Especially, the English digital word form occupied more psychological resources, and it was activated more in the frontal area and the parietal area, which would obviously hinder the processing of arithmetic information.
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