Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:58
Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)
Published on: August 28, 2021
Dyscalculia: from brain to education.
Brian Butterworth1, Sashank Varma, Diana Laurillard
1Centre for Educational Neuroscience and Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK. b.butterworth@ucl.ac.uk
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 28, 2011
Summary
Recent research suggests dyscalculia stems from a core deficit in understanding numerical sets and quantities. New interventions targeting numerosity processing show promise for effective educational support for learners with dyscalculia.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty impacting mathematical abilities.
- A core deficit in understanding numerical sets and quantities is increasingly recognized as central to dyscalculia.
- Elementary mathematics relies heavily on foundational numerosity understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cognitive and developmental neuroscience in understanding dyscalculia.
- To investigate the neural underpinnings of numerosity processing and its impairment.
- To identify and evaluate new evidence-based interventions for dyscalculic learners.
Main Methods:
- Review of structural and functional neuroimaging studies in adults and children.
- Identification of neural markers associated with impaired numerosity processing.
- Analysis of emerging interventions, including adaptive software.
Main Results:
- Neuroimaging studies have elucidated the neural bases of numerosity processing.
- Specific neural markers for dyscalculia related to numerosity deficits have been identified.
- Adaptive software demonstrates potential for strengthening numerosity skills.
Conclusions:
- A neuroscience-based approach offers new insights into dyscalculia.
- Targeting core numerosity deficits is crucial for effective intervention.
- Evidence-based educational tools, like adaptive software, can support dyscalculic learners.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:29Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
01:01Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...