|
Functional brain-imaging techniques (positron
emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging) have made
it possible to explore the neural foundations of logical and mathematical
cognition in recent years. Two researchers from the Groupe d'Imagerie
Neurofonctionnelle, (CNRS – CEA - Université de Caen - Université
Paris 5), have published a review of the most recent data on the subject
in the June issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
Does our brain reason logically? In other
words, does it follow logico-linguistic rules or does it use visual and
spatial models? Why do we commit errors in logic? Can emotion help reasoning?
When do mathematics emerge in the human brain? Do babies already have
mathematical capabilities (or even apes, for instance) before the appearance
of language? When our adult brain does arithmetic, does it use areas of
language and/or visual and spatial areas (like the monkey or human baby)?
What occurs in the brain of a math prodigy? Does our brain have a "central
intelligence system" where mathematics and logic are combined? These
are just some of the fascinating questions that this review, compiled
by Olivier Houdé and Nathalie Tzourio-Mazoyer, attempts to answer
with a selection of data from the fields of experimental psychology and
cognitive neuroscience pertaining to animals, infants, children and adults.
These new advances in cognitive sciences
are important not just for basic research but for education as well.
Reference:
Houdé, O., & Tzourio-Mazoyer, N. (2003). Neural foundations
of logical and mathematical cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 4
(June publication).
Researcher
contact:
Olivier Houdé, Nathalie Tzourio-Mazoyer
Groupe d’imagerie neurofonctionnelle (Neurofunctional Imaging Group)
Tel: +33 2 31 47 02 68
E-mail: houde@cyceron.fr,
tzourio@cyceron.fr
Press
contact :
Muriel Ilous
Tel: +33 1 44 96 43 09
E-mail: muriel.ilous@cnrs-dir.fr
CNRS
Life Sciences Department, communications contact:
Françoise Tristani
Tel : +33 1 44 96 40 26
francoise.tristani@cnrs-dir.fr
|