The Mathematical Brain

by Brian Butterworth

SynopsisThe concept of numbers and the ability to recognize and process them is innate, part of everyone's intellectual apparatus whether they've had formal education or not. This "number instinct" is not dependent on basic intelligence or general knowledge, a fact which has implications for neuroscience and poses the why did man evolve with such specialized neural apparatus. It has been that the social development of humans has been crucially affected by language, yet numbers have also been critical in the advancement of human culture. Every child goes through a stage of learning to count using their ten fingers, much as early Homo Sapiens must have done. If number learning is a natural and universal function of the brain, why do so many suffer from dyscalculia? This text, containing theories and anecdote, is an investigation into the bizarre world of numbers. It examines the role of education, good or bad, in the development of mathematical disorders.

Genres: Mathematics, Dyscalculia, Science, Nonfiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology,
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience,
University College, London

Fellow of the British Academy

Reviews

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a popular description of work to establish the kinds of mathematical thought which seem to be innate in the brain from birth (basic principles which underly counting and simple arithmetic), there is some interesting material in this book. It is let down by being extremely repetitive, with some explanations seeming to appear in every chapter. I would also like to know more about the differences between the ways that professional mathematicians think as compared to the norm; most of the coverage here is repetition of well known stories such as the life of Ramanujan. Could have been much better.

[Emmalene Umar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting research about number systems and the different representations of number within the world and how that is conceptualized within the brain. It becomes a bit lifeless however when you have to read it quickly and use it for essays. Best chapter is definitely "Home, School and Street Mathematics". I recommend this to anyone interested in maths/education.

[Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that our brain was loaded with mathematical approach in analyzing our surrounding. There's nothing to fear about math anyway.. the truth is do we know the concept!...