Learning effects on math and high cognitive functions sharing the same neural substrate

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25871252
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cognitive science; Brain biometrics
• Research Institution: Osaka University (2014-2015); Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Maruyama Masaki 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 特任助教 (70443033)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 学習 / 文法 / 言語 / 計算式 / 痛覚 / 認知

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study probed cognitive functions that share a neural substrate with the human math abilities. Brain functions that are distinguished from each other but have a common neural substrate can show a positive correlation in behavioral performances. In this study, behavioral performances of a number comparison and other cognitive tasks were measured from 20 subjects. Preliminary analyses did not find any significant positive correlation among the tasks across the subjects. Further examinations on the correlation are going to be conducted with high statistical sensitivity, using more accurate analytic methods and more subjects' data.
Generalization of math training effect to linguistic skill was also investigated. This study has successfully developed a training task related to syntax of mathematical expressions. Behavioral and fMRI data acquired before and after the training are going to be analyzed to examine a generalization of the effect to linguistic cognition.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学