Hi folks
I thought some of you might be interested in a book which
has just been published by G. Butterworth (cognitive
neuroscientist) called "The Mathematical Brain". I've
only had a chance to take a quick look, but it seems good
(and the reviews are impressive). Maths skills have been
neglected in most research, so this is a useful update.
It is fairly readable, not too heavy on the jargon.
The one chapter I did take a look at was on difficulties
with Maths - it's very readable. He says most people just
either lack practice or missed one of the stages of their
maths studies at school (e.g. due to illness) and now have
problems because later stages of math study depend on
earlier ones to a greater extent than in some other
subjects.
HOWEVER he also shows a number of fascinating
cases of people whose difficulties with Maths cannot be
explained in this fashion, and who have otherwise normal
intelligence. This is what they call dyscalcula
(sometimes spelled dyscalculia) - and it can occur
independent of other specific learning difficulties or
alongside them. (For those interested in the
neurophysiology the common pattern seems to be damage in
the Left Parietal Lobe - what a surprise! (not) - and the
condition can be either debvelopmental or acquired).
Hope it's of interest.
Regards, Deb
----------------------
Deb Viney
Disability Co-ordinator
University of Southampton
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01 703 597518
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