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Logo Revista Latinoamericana de Investigación en Matemática Educativa

Artículos

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2009): Julio

BRAIN, COGNITION AND MATHEMATICS

Submitted
May 16, 2024
Published
2009-05-29

Abstract

In this article, we discuss the problem of the relationship between brain, mathematics, and cognition. In the first part, we present some elements concerning the anatomy of the brain and its growth. Against this background and drawing on current neuroscience research, we offer a summary of the cerebral parts usually associated with arithmetic thinking and the transition from perceptual arithmetic (common to several species) to symbolic arithmetic (specific to the human species only). Our discussion then turns around brain research and algebra. The literature review offers a general panorama that points out the multimodal nature of cognition in general and mathematical cognition in particular. This multimodal nature of cognition is compatible at different levels with the ontogenetic development of the brain a development that turns out to be strongly related to the cultural context. In the conclusions we suggest some problems and questions that may be useful contact points for a research program between educators and neuroscientists.

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