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People born without sight appear to solve math problems using visual areas of the brain.
A functional MRI study of 17 people blind since birth found that areas of visual cortex became active when the participants were asked to solve algebra problems, a team from Johns Hopkins reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"And as the equations get harder and harder, activity in these areas goes up in a blind person," says Marina Bedny, an author of the study and an assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
In 19 sighted people doing the same problems, visual areas of the brain showed no increase in activity.
"That really suggests that yes, blind individuals appear to be doing math with their visual cortex," Bedny says.
Can they reduce math phobia while the subjects are in the MRI machines?
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Wednesday September 21 2016, @05:48PM
I saw that, but the PNAS link is just an abstract an no actual article. I want to see whether they used a proper control, as fMRI has a very dodgy scientific basis.
The interesting question *I* would like to see answered is "can a normally sighted person improved cognitive activities by suppressing vision?" (e.g. darkened room).
I've really improved my sleep by blacking out the room, although it was prompted by staying an airport hotel and sleeping off jetlag, rather than reading an article!