Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
10:58
Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA
Published on: August 28, 2021
5.1K
Specialization of the Right Intraparietal Sulcus for Processing Mathematics During Development
Margot A Schel1, Torkel Klingberg1
1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|August 28, 2016
Summary
The right anterior intraparietal sulcus (IPS) initially supports both math and spatial memory in children. This brain region later specializes for mathematical abilities, not spatial memory, in adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Development
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Mathematical ability and working memory involve overlapping brain regions, particularly the intraparietal sulcus (IPS).
- Previous studies using group averages obscure individual anatomical specificity for cognitive functions.
- Understanding the precise localization of mathematical functions requires analyzing individual brain variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional anatomy of the intraparietal cortex using individual analyses.
- To determine how structural connectivity of IPS subregions relates to cognitive functions like mathematics and working memory.
- To explore developmental changes in the specialization of IPS regions.
Main Methods:
- Individual analysis of intraparietal sulcus (IPS) subregions based on structural connectivity to frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices.
- Cortical thickness analysis to correlate brain structure with cognitive performance.
- Examination of mathematical ability and visuospatial working memory in children, adolescents, and adults.
Main Results:
- The right anterior IPS, connected to the frontal lobe, is associated with both visuospatial working memory and mathematical abilities in 6-year-old children.
- This specific right anterior IPS region demonstrates developmental specialization, becoming uniquely related to mathematics in adolescents and adults.
- Visuospatial working memory function in older individuals is not associated with this specialized mathematical region.
Conclusions:
- The right anterior IPS undergoes interactive specialization during development, transitioning from a general spatial role to a mathematics-specific function.
- This developmental trajectory highlights how environmental interactions and inter-regional communication shape cognitive specializations.
- Individual-based analysis is crucial for accurately mapping cognitive functions to specific brain regions.
More Related Videos
13:12Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
Published on: August 12, 2019
46.6K
07:08Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
8.8K
Related Concept Videos
01:28Lateralization
1.2K
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
1.2K
01:17Piaget's Stage 3 of Cognitive Development
1.2K
During Piaget's concrete operational stage, from ages 7 to 11, children exhibit a marked increase in logical thinking skills, specifically in relation to tangible, real-world events. This stage is characterized by the development of several essential cognitive concepts, including conservation, reversibility, and classification, all of which support the child's evolving capacity for structured thought.
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
1.2K
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
2.9K
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
2.9K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.3K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.3K
01:30Information Processing Approach
702
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...
702
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
8.8K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
8.8K