Integral calculus problem solving: an fMRI investigation.

Full Abstract

Only a subset of adults acquires specific advanced mathematical skills, such as integral calculus. The representation of more sophisticated mathematical concepts probably evolved from basic number systems; however its neuroanatomical basis is still unknown. Using fMRI, we investigated the neural basis of integral calculus while healthy participants were engaged in an integration verification task. Solving integrals activated a left-lateralized cortical network including the horizontal intraparietal sulcus, posterior superior parietal lobe, posterior cingulate gyrus, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Our results indicate that solving of more abstract and sophisticated mathematical facts, such as calculus integrals, elicits a pattern of brain activation similar to the cortical network engaged in basic numeric comparison, quantity manipulation, and arithmetic problem solving.

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Author information

Author/s: Krueger, Frank (F); Spampinato, Maria Vittoria (MV); Pardini, Matteo (M); Pajevic, Sinisa (S); Wood, Jacqueline N (JN); Weiss, George H (GH); Landgraf, Steffen (S); Grafman, Jordan (J);

Affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1440, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 19 (issue 11) : pp 1095-9

Dates: Created 2008/07/03; Completed 2008/08/25;

PMID: 18596607, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Brain - anatomy & histology; physiology
Cognition - physiology
Functional Laterality - physiology
Gyrus Cinguli - anatomy & histology; physiology
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods

Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Mathematics
Nerve Net - anatomy & histology; physiology
Neural Pathways - anatomy & histology; physiology
Parietal Lobe - anatomy & histology; physiology
Prefrontal Cortex - anatomy & histology; physiology
Problem Solving - physiology

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