Are All Brains Good at Math?

https://nautil.us/are-all-brains-good-at-math-238539/

With the how mathematics is portrayed in popular culture, it has been

increasingly difficult to teach math despite humans having an innate sense of quantity.

In the article, “Are All Brains Good at Math?” by Elizabeth Landau, factors affecting

mathematical aptitudes are tackled – as well as how these affect our natural

mathematical gift as humans. In recent research, it was shown that we are born with an

inherent sense of numbers, also known as numerosity. Babies can grasp this

numerosity as early as 6 months old, long before they have been exposed to human

culture or language. Numerosity is not a skill exclusive to humans. Pigeons can be

taught to peck on a board a set number of times and dolphins appear to understand the

numerical idea of "less.” However, what separates humans from these species is how

we use symbols and language to express numerosity. Nevertheless, higher education is

needed to understand how to use these symbols for more complex mathematics. In the

1950s, several instructors noticed a condition in students known as Mathema phobia.

According to a 2020 study from Stanford and the University of Chicago, math anxiety is

correlated with poor mathematical capability all over the world. Being terrible at math

has become a running joke on the internet.

Math anxiety can be prevented. It has been too engraved in our culture to the

point of normality. Many people have claimed to hate math due to its difficulty. To me,

this is absurd for two reasons. For one, math is necessary, especially in the current day

and age. In the technological age, mathematics is everywhere. Various fields such as

engineering, medicine, biological research, economics, architecture, space science,

electronics, statistics, and pharmacology all benefit from the use of mathematics. Most

of society’s progress in the past 500 years has been due to new mathematical and

scientific discoveries. Second, math is elegant. How come “I hate math,” is normal and

“I hate literature,” and “I hate art,” are distasteful? Math promotes creativity and higher

thinking the same way art and literature make you wonder. The complexity of math can

either awe you or drown you. It is a matter of perspective. And with the current trend,

society seems to be promoting the latter. Thus, a positive outlook towards mathematics

has never been more essential. This can be done by parents, educators, and fellow

students approaching math as something challenging instead of something

insurmountable.