“Math neurons” identified in the brain

Math neurons identified in the brain

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[EN VIDÉO] How to reconcile with mathematics?
Normalien, agrégation in mathematics and holder of a master’s degree in the history of religions, Hervé Lehning has devoted himself entirely, since 2010, to the popularization of science, in mathematics, computer science and cryptology. In this video, he gives some simple ideas to play down and facilitate access to mathematics.

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, we do math everyday, without realizing it. What’s happening in the brain during its simple operations still eludes us. Scientists from the University of Tübingen and Bonn have looked into this question. Through a system ofelectrode usually used to treat epileptic patients, they were able to observe the reaction of the brain when it does math, at the level of the neuron.

Neurons to subtract and add

Nine volunteers, five women and four men, lent themselves to the game. With electrodes placed at the level of their lobe temporal, they had to solve a simple calculation in which each element appears successively on a screen: the first digit, the mathematical sign (+ or -), the second digit. Finally, the participants had to fill in the result. ” We observed that different neurons fired during additions than during subtractions », explains Professor Florian Mormann from the University of Bonn.

Thus, when the brain recognizes the + sign, the neurons specializing in addition are activated. In the same way, when he recognizes the sign -, it is the neurons of subtraction which start working. ” This study marks an important step towards a better understanding of one of our most important symbolic capacities, namely calculation with numbers. “, he concludes.

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