Ramesh had got his result from
school today .His summer vacations had just got over and the school had for
some odd reasons a rule to announce their final results after the summer
vacations .Ramesh had fun during his vacations and had promised his mother that
he will study when the school starts.
Geeta
,Ramesh’s mother was very particular about his academics and was always in
touch with his school teachers about his academic progress. She knew Ramesh was
weak in mathematics and he did like the subject. He would run away whenever she
tried to teach him maths.Probably the reason was that he spends most of his
time reading story books or painting.Anyways she got him last year a
professional math’s private tutor who would sit with him every day for one hour.
She was sure there would be improvement in his scores.Ramesh disliked the
teacher for obvious reasons. When Ramesh showed Geeta his marks she could not
believe her eyes .His scores had only marginally improved from 50 , he had improved to 55.But surprisingly
his English and Art marks had improved almost 20 percent as compared to last
year.Geeta was perplexed how this had happened even after putting so much
effort .
So let me try to explain how our brain works when we do maths.Mostly
everyone knows that the term "dyslexia" refers to people who can't
keep words and letters straight. A rarer term is "dyscalculia," which
describes someone who is virtually unable to deal with numbers, much less do
complicated math. Scientists now have discovered the area of the brain
linked to dyscalculia, demonstrating that there is a specific part of the brain
essential for counting properly.
The
idea that mathematical skills reside only on the left part of the brain proved to be a myth. In reality, in most
activities, the entire brain is used at all times. Mathematical thinking
entails complex brain functions, interconnected to perform even the simplest of
functions. For example, you may use the right parietal lobe to get close to a
mathematical solution; however, to get the right answer, the left hemisphere
further processes your solution
The right hemisphere matures
before the left hemisphere for most cognitive skills, such as numerical
understanding or appreciating quantities.
According to scientists, both types
of numerical knowledge employ parts of both the parietal and prefrontal cortex
in adults.
Creative
mathematical ability involves discovering multiple solutions to a problem or
solving real world problems. Scientists affirm that highly gifted creative
mathematical thinkers employ extensively the parietal and frontal areas on both
parts of the brain. Studies on Einstein’s
brain proved that regions of his right parietal area were so dense with
neurons that one of the major cortical indentations (IPS) was actually filled in completely and difficult to locate . The
intraparietal sulcus (IPS) region is activated when a person thinks of numbers or
does math. The inferior frontal gyrus known as Broca’s language area, is responsible for expressive language,
such as speaking or writing.
Another area, known as Wernicke’s language area is responsible for understanding
spoken or written language. Recent studies have shown that Broca’s plays
a large part in understanding syntax in addition to forming it.
All of these areas appear in the dominant
hemisphere (side) of the brain, which in 97% of the population is the left
side.
Geometry is associated with
visual-spatial representations – analysis of space, shape, points, lines,
angles, surfaces, and configuration, etc, which are activated in the right
cerebral hemisphere - the right parietal and frontal areas of the brain, to be more
specific.
You would need the synchronization of eight
separate parts of the brain for the different arithmetic operations.
For
example, for identifying written digits, you activate the left and right visual
cortices.
For understanding quantities – the left and right
parietal cortices .
To solve word problems – the left
temporal cortex and
for complex mathematical reasoning –
the left and right frontal areas.
Imagine how you really
pick the shortest checkout line.You could count the number of shoppers in each
line, in which case you'd be thinking discretely in terms of numerosity.
But if you're a hurried shopper, you probably
take a quick glance at each line and pick the one that seems the shortest. In
this case you're thinking in terms of continuous quantity. The two modes of thinking are so similar but
the difference lies in the way your brain executes the function. For kids who
find it difficult learning math’s the first method is a better option. Rather
than hurrying into answering the mathematical problem Understanding,analysing and
then calculating seems to be more prudent solution .
As for Geeta she accepted the fact that her child was able to paint and read much better than arithmetic problems and she stopped pressurizing Ramesh for mathematics rather encouraged him to take his own time and solve the maths problem to the best of his abilities.
