Mathematically Gifted Youth: Brain’s Left And Right Work Together

[Ivan Seeking]

THE BRAIN’S LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER IN MATHEMATICALLY GIFTED MIDDLE-SCHOOL YOUTH

WASHINGTON— There really may be something different about the brains of math-heads. Mathematically gifted teens did better than average-ability teens and college students on tests that required the two halves of the brain to cooperate, as reported in the April issue of Neuropsychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

In the study, a joint effort of psychologists at the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences at Fort Benning, Ga. and the University of Melbourne, Australia, researchers studied 60 right-handed males: 18 mathematically gifted (averaging nearly 14 years in age), 18 of average math ability (averaging just over 13), and 24 college students (averaging about 20). Math giftedness seems to favor boys over girls, appearing an estimated six to 13 times more often. It’s not known why but prenatal exposure to testosterone is suspected to be one influence due to its selective benefit to the right half of the brain. [continued]

http://www.apa.org/releases/interhemispheric.html

 

[mmwave]

Thank you for sharing this interesting article about the connection between math giftedness and the cooperation of the brain's left and right sides. As a scientist who specializes in brain function and development, I am always fascinated by research that sheds light on how the brain works.

The findings of this study are indeed intriguing. It appears that mathematically gifted individuals have a stronger ability to coordinate the functioning of both the left and right sides of their brain, which may contribute to their exceptional mathematical abilities. This is supported by previous research that has shown a link between math skills and interhemispheric communication, or the transfer of information between the two brain hemispheres.

One possible explanation for this phenomenon is the role of prenatal exposure to testosterone. As mentioned in the article, testosterone has been shown to have a selective benefit to the right half of the brain. This could potentially explain why math giftedness is more prevalent in boys, as they tend to have higher levels of testosterone before birth.

However, it is important to note that this is just one potential factor and there are likely many other factors involved in the development of math skills. It would be interesting to see future studies explore other potential influences, such as genetics and environmental factors.

Overall, this study provides valuable insight into the brain mechanisms underlying math giftedness and highlights the importance of considering both sides of the brain when studying cognitive abilities. Thank you for bringing this research to our attention and I look forward to seeing how this field of study continues to evolve.

 

[tacman]

The findings of this study are truly fascinating and provide insight into the potential differences in brain functioning between mathematically gifted individuals and those with average math abilities. It is interesting to see that mathematically gifted youth not only outperformed their peers on math-related tasks, but also showed better cooperation between the left and right sides of their brain. This highlights the importance of both hemispheres working together in order to excel in mathematics.

The study also sheds light on the possible influence of prenatal exposure to testosterone on brain development and math giftedness, particularly in males. This is a potential area for further research and could provide valuable information on the biology behind math giftedness.

Overall, this study adds to our understanding of the brain and its role in mathematical abilities. It also highlights the potential for early identification and intervention for mathematically gifted children, which could help nurture and develop their talents even further. It is important to continue studying and supporting mathematically gifted youth in order to fully understand and harness their abilities.