Our Innate Ability to Understand Numbers: An Evolutionary Advantage
Marc Calleja / Alamy
Research indicates that newborns have an inherent sense of numbers, with brain mechanisms now identified for the first time. Studies show that infants, just hours after birth, can differentiate between groups of 4 and 12 stimuli, demonstrating the early establishment of this basic number sense.
According to Brian Butterworth from University College London, who was not involved in the study, “Extracting numerical information is akin to seeing the world in color for most people.” This innate numerical ability is considered a crucial part of our fundamental skill set, allowing us to perceive quantities instinctively, similar to recognizing the color of an object.
Marco Buiatti and researchers from the University of Trento focused on understanding the brain mechanisms that underpin this intrinsic numerical sense, which develops independent of language or cultural influences. They monitored 21 newborns, aged 0 to 3 days, using EEG caps to gauge brain activity.
Studying the cognitive capabilities of infants is challenging, Buiatti mentions. “They only open their eyes intermittently, making it complex and time-consuming. However, the results are incredibly rewarding.”
Throughout their awake periods, the babies listened to a 90-second sequence of repeated sounds presented in either 4 or 12 syllables, while visual stimuli containing corresponding dot groups were displayed for up to 50 seconds.
The research revealed that infants showed decreased electrical activity in their parietotemporal cortex when the number of visual dots corresponded with the spoken syllables. Conversely, neural activity increased with mismatched stimuli.
This pattern aligns with adult brain behavior; our brain lessens its response to repeated stimuli through a process called repetition inhibition, optimizing efficiency by not treating familiar input as new.
When presented with different numbers of dots, the increase in neural activity suggests that the brain is engaged in processing new information about quantities. “For the first time, we expose the neural mechanisms behind this innate number sense,” Buiatti states.
This intrinsic capability offers significant evolutionary benefits, such as swiftly distinguishing between singular versus multiple predators or food sources, which would have been vital for survival.
Notably, children demonstrate a solid number sense by age one, which can help predict their future mathematical skills, as seen in research (Predict their math skills years from now). Understanding these neural bases can aid researchers in identifying children at risk for dyscalculia, a learning disability affecting numerical comprehension.
“Investigating the neural foundations of number sense at birth is crucial, as it lays the groundwork for later advanced mathematical abilities. Future research could lead to the development of early biomarkers for dyscalculia risk,” Buiatti concludes.
Topics:
Source: www.newscientist.com
