On the role of visual experience in mathematical development: Evidence from blind mathematicians.

ABSTRACT: Advanced mathematical reasoning, regardless of domain or difficulty, activates a reproducible set of bilateral brain areas including intraparietal, inferior temporal and dorsal prefrontal cortex. The respective roles of genetics, experience and education in the development of this math-responsive network, however, remain unresolved. Here, we investigate the role of visual experience by studying the exceptional case of three professional mathematicians who were blind from birth (n=1) or became blind during childhood (n=2). Subjects were scanned with fMRI while they judged the truth value of spoken mathematical and nonmathematical statements. Blind mathematicians activated the classical network of math-related areas during mathematical reflection, similar to that found in a group of sighted

SUBMITTER: Amalric M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5833949 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature