Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Brains Hard-Wired for Math

Posted by samzenpus on from the easy-as-1-2-3 dept.

mcgrew writes "New Scientist is reporting that "non-human primates really can understand the meaning of numerals." The small study of two rhesus monkeys reveals that cells in their brains respond selectively to specific number values — regardless of whether the amount is represented by dots on a screen or an Arabic numeral. For example, a given brain cell in the monkey will respond to the number three, but not the number one. The results suggest that individual cells in human brains might also have a fine-tuned preference for specific numerical values." The report itself is online at PLoS Biology, Semantic Associations between Signs and Numerical Categories in the Prefrontal Cortex."

17 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. First post by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 5, Funny

    My brain has a fine-tuned preference for the number 'one'.

  2. and there you see! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    42 really is the answer!

  3. Re:binary by ExploHD · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, there are 11 kinds of people, those who understand binary, and those who don't.

  4. Re:binary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    For example, a given brain cell in the monkey will respond to the number three So I guess we're not wired binary? 3 is just our interpretation of the result. As far as we know they could be interpreting the values in unary (the earliest human system) or worse, octal. Stupid monkeys. Don't they know that hexadecimal would make their lives much easier?
  5. Re:binary by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 5, Funny

    And those who can't count.

    --
    Demented But Determined.
  6. Re:Base? by mdemonic · · Score: 5, Funny

    # I wonder if the brains are wired for specific bases, like base 10.

    We like it because we have ten fingers. Other civilizations have had other number systems though. The Mayans used base 20, since they had 20 fingers

  7. title wrong by weak* · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've co-taught an undergraduate mathematics course. Based on this experience and many others, I assure you the human mind is not hard-wired for math.

    --
    The Schwartz space ain't from Spaceballs.
  8. I really like seven... by feepness · · Score: 4, Funny

    For some reason I get aroused when I hear the number seven. Especially when it's followed by "of nine".

  9. Re:binary by mike260 · · Score: 5, Funny

    There actually are 11 kinds of people - one kind doesn't get the joke, one kind does, and the other nine are sick to death of hearing it trotted out at every bloody opportunity.

  10. Re:binary by marcansoft · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, there are 11 kinds of people, those who understand unary, and those who don't.

    There, fixed that for you.
  11. Re:What about the Pirahã? by svunt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did you just add footnotes to actually back up your claim on a slashdot discussion? *rubs eyes* You're going to destroy this site's reputation.

  12. monkey professor by dancingmad · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wish they'd teach me math then; considering my college math grades, I'm worse off than these monkeys.

    --
    "There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter," Jeeves, (Jeeves and the Impending Doom)
  13. Re:Base? by cheater512 · · Score: 4, Funny

    There was one which used that system but it died out after the first generation. ;)

  14. Re:Base? by Yoozer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most geeks will however have trouble with base 3.

  15. Re:Base? by TheLink · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nah the Mayan probably wore open toed sandals ;).

    --
  16. Re:What about the Pirahã? by Frozen+Void · · Score: 5, Funny

    these were non-numbered footnotes so they don't count.

  17. Infinity by flyingfsck · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, don't think of infinity. Your skull will explode...

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!