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Does two equal 2? Notational representations in the human brain

Objectif

How human beings process numbers is a fundamental question with extensive impact on almost every aspect of life, both in normal and clinical populations. The aim of this proposal is to find some answers as to whether numbers are represented in an abstract way in the human brain, whether there are multiple representations for different numerical notations, and how learning shapes the way in which we represent numbers.

Most theories of numerical cognition support the assumption that the representation of numbers is abstract and therefore notation independent. Accordingly, the reaction time profiles for the comparison of different notations, such as digits (e.g. 2), number words (e.g. TWO), or numerosity (e.g. ,) are identical. Converging evidence for the abstract numerical representation comes also from imaging studies.

However, there are three caveats to these findings:
- Stimuli that yield similar response functions can still be processed by distinct mechanisms.
- There might be segregated representations at the neuronal level that cannot be revealed in conventional fMRI analysis, which is confined to the few millimeters of a single imaged voxel, and highly specialized neurons might be co-localized within such a voxel.
- All previous imaging studies have involved response selection.

This is crucial since it has been shown recently, that response selection and number processing activate the same brain areas. Hence, the shared activation for different notations might be due to response selection demands or in sufficient spatial resolution, and not to a notation independent comparison mechanism.

The proposed project will be based on the promising combination of advanced imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, event-related potentials, transcranial magnetic stimulation and behavioural methods in both clinical and normal populations. This approach will further our understanding of the differential processing of numerical information.

Champ scientifique (EuroSciVoc)

Mots‑clés

Thème(s)

Appel à propositions

FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
Voir d’autres projets de cet appel

Régime de financement

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Coordinateur

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Contribution de l’UE
Aucune donnée
Coût total
Aucune donnée