Is the Key to Math Buried Deep in Our Evolutionary Past?
How a Fundamental Brain Region Unlocks Our Number Skills
New research has uncovered a surprising brain region involved in human mathematical abilities, offering transformative insights for education, neuroscience, and surgical practices.
The Putamen: A Hidden Key to Math Cognition
A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has revealed that the putamen, a deep brain structure traditionally associated with motor functions and some cognitive roles, plays an integral part in processing numbers. This finding challenges the long-standing belief that advanced numerical thinking is confined to the cerebral cortex.
What the Study Uncovered
Researchers recruited 13 epilepsy patients undergoing a procedure known as stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG). This method involves inserting electrodes into the brain to pinpoint seizure origins. While performing this procedure, participants were asked to think about numbers in three distinct ways:
As symbols (e.g., the numeral 3)
As words (e.g., “three”)
As abstract concepts (e.g., a set of three dots)
Unexpectedly, brain activity lit up in the putamen. This region, located in the basal ganglia above the brain stem, has rarely been associated with high-level cognitive functions like numerical thinking. Instead, it is known for its role in movement and fundamental neural operations.
An Evolutionary Perspective
“This likely means the human ability to process numbers is something that we acquired early during evolution,” said Ahmed Raslan, M.D., senior author and professor of neurological surgery at OHSU. Unlike the cerebral cortex, which developed later in evolutionary history, the putamen may hold ancient mechanisms that enabled early humans to conceptualize numbers, laying the foundation for modern mathematics.
Broader Implications for Neurosurgery and Education
The discovery has implications that extend beyond evolutionary insights.
Improving Neurosurgical Precision
Findings from the study could help neurosurgeons navigate critical areas of the brain with greater care. By mapping regions involved in number processing, surgeons can avoid damaging these areas during procedures like tumor removal or epilepsy treatment. “This knowledge ensures we preserve patients’ ability to perform higher-level functions,” explained Alexander Rockhill, Ph.D., lead author and postdoctoral researcher in Raslan’s lab.
Advancing Educational Strategies
Understanding how the brain processes numbers could also revolutionize educational techniques, particularly for individuals who struggle with mathematical concepts. The study suggests that targeted interventions, potentially involving neural stimulation, could enhance number comprehension and learning outcomes.
Building on Patient Contributions
The study’s breakthroughs were made possible through the participation of epilepsy patients. By engaging with researchers during their surgical procedures, these individuals provided invaluable insights into brain function.
“We are extremely grateful to our patients for their willingness to contribute to science,” said Christian Lopez Ramos, M.D., neurosurgical resident at OHSU. “Their responses during surgery were the key to unraveling these mysteries of the human brain.”
Next Steps in Exploring Brain Functionality
Encouraged by these findings, researchers aim to delve deeper into the brain’s capabilities. “This study is just the beginning,” Raslan stated. Future work will focus on identifying other deep brain regions involved in higher-order cognitive functions, potentially unveiling further mysteries about the origins of human intelligence.
Why This Matters
The revelation that the putamen contributes to numerical cognition reshapes our understanding of the brain and its evolutionary development. By combining neuroscience, education, and surgery, this research sets the stage for groundbreaking applications that could transform lives.
“Every time we explore the brain, we uncover profound truths about our humanity,” said Raslan. “All it takes is asking the right questions.”
Source: Is the Key to Math Buried Deep in Our Evolutionary Past?
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