Neurobiological origins of individual differences in mathematical ability

Skeide, Michael; Wehrmann, Katharina; Emami, Zahra; Kirsten, Holger; Hartmann, Annette M.; Rujescu, Dan

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000871

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The workshop consisted of an alternation between keynote presentations to provide the state-of-the art in different topics (see Table 1 ), and interactive elements (such as an Open Space event, working group break-out sessions), in which participants from different disciplines interacted to define gaps and solutions. One defining characteristic of brain development that recurred throughout the entire workshop, is the enormous extent of continuous interactions not only occurring across levels (e.g., across genetic and brain levels 1 ), but also across the different emerging functions (e.g., language, reading, math, executive function 2 ). In Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to capture developmental brain dynamics: gaps and solutions

et al. 2021

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Capturing developmental and learning-induced brain dynamics is extremely challenging as changes occur interactively across multiple levels and emerging functions. Different levels include the (social) environment, cognitive and behavioral levels, structural and functional brain changes, and genetics, while functions include domains such as math, reading, and executive function. Here, we report the insights that emerged from the workshop “Capturing Developmental Brain Dynamics”, organized to bring together multidisciplinary approaches to integrate data on development and learning across different levels, functions, and time points. During the workshop, current main gaps in our knowledge and tools were identified including the need for: (1) common frameworks, (2) longitudinal, large-scale, multisite studies using representative participant samples, (3) understanding interindividual variability, (4) explicit distinction of understanding versus predicting, and (5) reproducible research. After illustrating interactions across levels and functions during development, we discuss the identified gaps and provide solutions to advance the capturing of developmental brain dynamics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to capture developmental brain dynamics: gaps and solutions

et al. 2021

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“…Furthermore, numerical ability and disability are associated with environmental and heritable variation ( 48 ), but the exact role of training, environment, and genes on influencing numerical ability remains to be explore. Also, certain genes (e.g., ROBO1 ) are associated with the volume of the parietal cortex and mathematical ability through unknown mechanisms ( 49 ). The animal model we developed should be useful for studying these issues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparate processing of numerosity and associated continuous magnitudes in rats

Liang,

Peng,

Rong

et al. 2024

Sci. Adv.

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The studies of number sense in different species are severely hampered by the inevitable entanglement of non-numerical attributes inherent in nonsymbolic stimuli representing numerosity, resulting in contrasting theories of numerosity processing. Here, we developed an algorithm and associated analytical methods to generate stimuli that not only minimized the impact of non-numerical magnitudes in numerosity perception but also allowed their quantification. We trained number-naïve rats with these stimuli as sound pulses representing two or three numbers and demonstrated that their numerical discrimination ability mainly relied on numerosity. Also, studying the learning process revealed that rats used numerosity before using magnitudes for choices. This numerical processing could be impaired specifically by silencing the posterior parietal cortex. Furthermore, modeling this capacity by neural networks shed light on the separation of numerosity and magnitudes extraction. Our study helps dissect the relationship between magnitude and numerosity processing, and the above different findings together affirm the independent existence of innate number and magnitudes sense in rats.

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“…The neurocognitive networks and their associated functions interact in various complex ways to enable efficient and flexible processing of the relevant numerical and arithmetic information. The efficient working of these brain regions is further modulated by genetic factors 10 , 11 , age 12 – 15 , ability level 15 – 17 , task constraints 18 , 19 , education 20 , and other environmental factors such socio-economic status 21 , 22 .…”

Section: Principles Of the Brain Network Associated With Numerical And Arithmetic Abilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental brain dynamics of numerical and arithmetic abilities

Vogel

Smedt

2021

npj Sci. Learn.

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The development of numerical and arithmetic abilities constitutes a crucial cornerstone in our modern and educated societies. Difficulties to acquire these central skills can lead to severe consequences for an individual’s well-being and nation’s economy. In the present review, we describe our current broad understanding of the functional and structural brain organization that supports the development of numbers and arithmetic. The existing evidence points towards a complex interaction among multiple domain-specific (e.g., representation of quantities and number symbols) and domain-general (e.g., working memory, visual–spatial abilities) cognitive processes, as well as a dynamic integration of several brain regions into functional networks that support these processes. These networks are mainly, but not exclusively, located in regions of the frontal and parietal cortex, and the functional and structural dynamics of these networks differ as a function of age and performance level. Distinctive brain activation patterns have also been shown for children with dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in the domain of mathematics. Although our knowledge about the developmental brain dynamics of number and arithmetic has greatly improved over the past years, many questions about the interaction and the causal involvement of the abovementioned functional brain networks remain. This review provides a broad and critical overview of the known developmental processes and what is yet to be discovered.

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Neurobiological origins of individual differences in mathematical ability

Cited by 15 publications

References 29 publications

How to capture developmental brain dynamics: gaps and solutions

How to capture developmental brain dynamics: gaps and solutions

Disparate processing of numerosity and associated continuous magnitudes in rats

Developmental brain dynamics of numerical and arithmetic abilities

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