The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions
Written mathematical notation conveys, in a compact visual form, the nested functional relations among abstract concepts such as operators, numbers or sets. Is the comprehension of mathematical expressions derived from the human capacity for processing the recursive structure of language? Or does al...
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2012
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| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama |
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paper:paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama2023-06-08T16:03:03Z The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions Functional magnetic resonance imaging Language Magnetoencephalography Mathematics Syntax adult amygdaloid nucleus article brain function brain region cerebellum controlled study electroencephalogram female functional magnetic resonance imaging hippocampus human human experiment inferior frontal gyrus magnetoencephalography male mathematical computing memory consolidation middle frontal gyrus operculum (brain) priority journal putamen right hemisphere superior temporal sulcus supramarginal gyrus task performance Adult Brain Brain Mapping Comprehension Female Humans Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetoencephalography Male Mathematical Concepts Photic Stimulation Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted Young Adult Written mathematical notation conveys, in a compact visual form, the nested functional relations among abstract concepts such as operators, numbers or sets. Is the comprehension of mathematical expressions derived from the human capacity for processing the recursive structure of language? Or does algebraic processing rely only on a language-independent network, jointly involving the visual system for parsing the string of mathematical symbols and the intraparietal system for representing numbers and operators? We tested these competing hypotheses by scanning mathematically trained adults while they viewed simple strings ranging from randomly arranged characters to mathematical expressions with up to three levels of nested parentheses. Syntactic effects were observed in behavior and in brain activation measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto-encephalography (MEG). Bilateral occipito-temporal cortices and right parietal and precentral cortices appeared as the primary nodes for mathematical syntax. MEG estimated that a mathematical expression could be parsed by posterior visual regions in less than 180. ms. Nevertheless, a small increase in activation with increasing expression complexity was observed in linguistic regions of interest, including the left inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior superior temporal sulcus. We suggest that mathematical syntax, although arising historically from language competence, becomes "compiled" into visuo-spatial areas in well-trained mathematics students. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. 2012 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging Language Magnetoencephalography Mathematics Syntax adult amygdaloid nucleus article brain function brain region cerebellum controlled study electroencephalogram female functional magnetic resonance imaging hippocampus human human experiment inferior frontal gyrus magnetoencephalography male mathematical computing memory consolidation middle frontal gyrus operculum (brain) priority journal putamen right hemisphere superior temporal sulcus supramarginal gyrus task performance Adult Brain Brain Mapping Comprehension Female Humans Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetoencephalography Male Mathematical Concepts Photic Stimulation Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted Young Adult |
| spellingShingle |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging Language Magnetoencephalography Mathematics Syntax adult amygdaloid nucleus article brain function brain region cerebellum controlled study electroencephalogram female functional magnetic resonance imaging hippocampus human human experiment inferior frontal gyrus magnetoencephalography male mathematical computing memory consolidation middle frontal gyrus operculum (brain) priority journal putamen right hemisphere superior temporal sulcus supramarginal gyrus task performance Adult Brain Brain Mapping Comprehension Female Humans Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetoencephalography Male Mathematical Concepts Photic Stimulation Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted Young Adult The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| topic_facet |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging Language Magnetoencephalography Mathematics Syntax adult amygdaloid nucleus article brain function brain region cerebellum controlled study electroencephalogram female functional magnetic resonance imaging hippocampus human human experiment inferior frontal gyrus magnetoencephalography male mathematical computing memory consolidation middle frontal gyrus operculum (brain) priority journal putamen right hemisphere superior temporal sulcus supramarginal gyrus task performance Adult Brain Brain Mapping Comprehension Female Humans Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetoencephalography Male Mathematical Concepts Photic Stimulation Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted Young Adult |
| description |
Written mathematical notation conveys, in a compact visual form, the nested functional relations among abstract concepts such as operators, numbers or sets. Is the comprehension of mathematical expressions derived from the human capacity for processing the recursive structure of language? Or does algebraic processing rely only on a language-independent network, jointly involving the visual system for parsing the string of mathematical symbols and the intraparietal system for representing numbers and operators? We tested these competing hypotheses by scanning mathematically trained adults while they viewed simple strings ranging from randomly arranged characters to mathematical expressions with up to three levels of nested parentheses. Syntactic effects were observed in behavior and in brain activation measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto-encephalography (MEG). Bilateral occipito-temporal cortices and right parietal and precentral cortices appeared as the primary nodes for mathematical syntax. MEG estimated that a mathematical expression could be parsed by posterior visual regions in less than 180. ms. Nevertheless, a small increase in activation with increasing expression complexity was observed in linguistic regions of interest, including the left inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior superior temporal sulcus. We suggest that mathematical syntax, although arising historically from language competence, becomes "compiled" into visuo-spatial areas in well-trained mathematics students. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. |
| title |
The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| title_short |
The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| title_full |
The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| title_fullStr |
The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| title_sort |
cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions |
| publishDate |
2012 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10538119_v61_n4_p1444_Maruyama |
| _version_ |
1768542799753379840 |