Algebra dissociates from arithmetic in the brain semantic network

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Jiaxin Cui¹  Xiaozhuang Wang²  Liangyuan Ouyang²  Xuejun Bai²  Naiyi Wang³  Mengyi Li⁴  Li Wang⁴  Xinlin Zhou⁴  Dazhi Cheng⁵ 

[1] College of Education, Hebei Normal University, 050024, Shijiazhuang, China;Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, 300387, Tianjin, China;Lab for Educational Neuroscience, Center for Educational Science and Technology, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China;State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, 100875, Beijing, China;Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China;State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, 100875, Beijing, China;Lab for Educational Neuroscience, Center for Educational Science and Technology, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China;Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China;Department of Pediatric Neurology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, 100020, Beijing, China;

关键词: Algebra;    Arithmetic;    Semantic network;    Phonological network;    Visuospatial network;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12993-022-00186-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMathematical expressions mainly include arithmetic (such as 8 − (1 + 3)) and algebra (such as a − (b + c)). Previous studies have shown that both algebraic processing and arithmetic involved the bilateral parietal brain regions. Although previous studies have revealed that algebra was dissociated from arithmetic, the neural bases of the dissociation between algebraic processing and arithmetic is still unclear. The present study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the specific brain networks for algebraic and arithmetic processing.MethodsUsing fMRI, this study scanned 30 undergraduates and directly compared the brain activation during algebra and arithmetic. Brain activations, single-trial (item-wise) interindividual correlation and mean-trial interindividual correlation related to algebra processing were compared with those related to arithmetic. The functional connectivity was analyzed by a seed-based region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analysis.ResultsBrain activation analyses showed that algebra elicited greater activation in the angular gyrus and arithmetic elicited greater activation in the bilateral supplementary motor area, left insula, and left inferior parietal lobule. Interindividual single-trial brain-behavior correlation revealed significant brain-behavior correlations in the semantic network, including the middle temporal gyri, inferior frontal gyri, dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, and left angular gyrus, for algebra. For arithmetic, the significant brain-behavior correlations were located in the phonological network, including the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, and in the visuospatial network, including the bilateral superior parietal lobules. For algebra, significant positive functional connectivity was observed between the visuospatial network and semantic network, whereas for arithmetic, significant positive functional connectivity was observed only between the visuospatial network and phonological network.ConclusionThese findings suggest that algebra relies on the semantic network and conversely, arithmetic relies on the phonological and visuospatial networks.

【 授权许可】

CC BY