Numerical representation in the parietal lobes: abstract or not abstract?

Journal article

The study of neuronal specialisation in different cognitive and perceptual domains is important for our understanding of the human brain, its typical and atypical development, and the evolutionary precursors of cognition. Central to this understanding is the issue of numerical representation, and the question of whether numbers are represented in an abstract fashion. Here we discuss and challenge the claim that numerical representation is abstract. We discuss the principles of cortical organisation with special reference to number and also discuss methodological and theoretical limitations that apply to numerical cognition and also to the field of cognitive neuroscience in general. We argue that numerical representation is primarily non-abstract and is supported by different neuronal populations residing in the parietal cortex.

Authors: Cohen Kadosh, R; Walsh, V

• Journal: Behavioral and brain sciences
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 313-328
• Publication date: 2009-08-01
• DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x09990938
• EISSN: 1469-1825
• ISSN: 0140-525X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Child, Preschool; Brain Mapping; Child; Parietal Lobe; Cognition; Models, Psychological; Functional Laterality; Adult; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Psychomotor Performance; Mathematical Concepts; Models, Neurological; Psychological Theory; Animals; Neural Pathways; Time Factors; Forecasting; Prefrontal Cortex