Descripción del proyecto
Imágenes por resonancia magnética explican cómo aprende matemáticas el encéfalo humano
El proyecto NeuroMath, financiado con fondos europeos, comparará los mecanismos neurales de aprendizaje en niños y adultos. Además, investigará el papel del lenguaje en la adquisición de conocimientos matemáticos, así como las correlaciones entre las personas que abandonan los estudios y marcadores neuronales específicos. Se estudiará la actividad del encéfalo en niños y adultos durante la adquisición de conocimientos matemáticos. Se realizarán dos experimentos bajo la supervisión de los principales expertos mundiales en el campo del conocimiento matemático y en el desarrollo de un «conocimiento básico» de las matemáticas en la infancia. Los experimentos explicarán las diferencias de funcionamiento del encéfalo durante el aprendizaje de conceptos matemáticos en comparación con otros conceptos semánticos generales.
Objetivo
How do humans learn and manipulate mathematical concepts? In previous research, I have shown that (1) advanced mathematical reflection on concepts encoded for many years does not recruit the brain circuits for language; (2) non-verbal acquisition of geometrical rules call upon a language of thought that is independent of natural spoken language. However, the question remains to understand whether advanced mathematical acquisition in schools, where knowledge is taught verbally, also dispenses with the human ability for language. Building on the expertise I have acquired in functional MRI testing of math experts, with the help of my supervisors, the present project proposes to track the evolution of children and adults' brain activity during learning. To this end, we will expose participants to typical classroom lessons with math-related content. Using fMRI, coupled with traditional general linear model and original inter-subject correlation analyses, we particularly aim to investigate whether (1) similar learning neural mechanisms are at work in adulthood and childhood; (2) language plays a role in mathematical acquisition; (3) understanding dropout correlates with a specific neural marker. A first experiment will aim to identify brain activation that changes with learning of math versus general semantic concepts in adults. It will be conducted in Italy, under the supervision of Pr. Piazza who is a leading expert in the field of math cognition, and mainly uses fMRI to study the plastic changes occurring in the brain during learning in particular of symbols (words, numbers, and math symbols). A second experiment will probe whether the neural patterns observed during adult learning of math laws also apply to children's learning of math laws such as commutativity. It will be conducted in the US, under the supervision of Pr. Spelke who is renowned for her work on the infants’ development especially of math “core knowledge”.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
38122 Trento
Italia