This article will answer the question “What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Mathematical and Spatial Reasoning?” The article will also focus on highlighting the functions of different brain areas and will cover some frequently asked questions about the brain below.
What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Mathematical and Spatial Reasoning?
The left hemisphere of the brain is dominant when it comes to controlling mathematical processing, language, and logical processing. The right hemisphere controls spatial perception and reasoning.
The brain is further separated into the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes, which expand on these functions depending on whether they’re situated on the right side of the brain or left.
There is an interaction that is required between the temporal lobe, prefrontal region, as well as parietal lobe when it comes to processing mathematical and analytical information.
It is believed that people who are dominant from the left brain are logical, rational, analytical, as well as objective. They tend to be analytical and logically make decisions. They are good at understanding and using language, math, critical thinking, and reasoning. The parietal Cortex plays the most important role when it comes to processing mathematical problems (Grabner et al., 2005).
Newer research has shown that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is the brain area that is related or responsible for planning movements and spatial awareness. It also plays an important role when it comes to making decisions regarding the images presented to it in the visual field.
It is also suggested that the right cerebral hemisphere is responsible for the movement and functions of the left side of the body. The left cerebral hemisphere is responsible for overlooking the functions of the right side of the body. The right cerebral hemisphere is in control of one’s artistic and creative abilities, while the left hemisphere is in control of logic and rational thinking.
The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is located in the front. It is responsible for movement, maintaining the temperature of the body, sense of touch, vision, and hearing. It is also involved in judgement, reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, and learning.
The cerebral cortex is responsible for thinking and consciousness. Humans have a larger cerebral cortex compared to others. The cerebral cortex is the outer brake-like layer of the brain and allows individuals to use complex skills, live in social settings, use language as well as create tools (Gibson, 2002).
Corticalization is known as the folding of the cerebral cortex. Compared to other animals, humans have a wrinkled and folded cerebral cortex, this creates a greater size and surface area, which allows for enhanced learning, thinking and remembering.
Each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres and subdivided into four lobes, each of them is separated by folds known as fissures.
The frontal lobe is responsible for memory, thinking, judgement, and planning, this starts from the front of the brain and moves over the top in the cortex.
The parietal lobe follows the frontal lobe, this part of the brain extends from the midsection of the skull. This is primarily responsible for processing information about sensations such as touch.
At the back of the skull comes the occipital lobe, which is responsible for processing visual information. The temporal lobe is located right in front of the occipital lobe, this section of the brain is responsible for language and hearing.
The Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe is in charge of problem-solving, judgment, decision-making, and motor functions (Stuss & Alexander, 2000).
The Parietal Lobes
The parietal lobes handle sensation, handwriting, as well as the position of the body.
The Temporal Lobes
The temporal lobes are responsible for memory and hearing.
The Occipital Lobes
The occipital lobes include the visual processing system of the brain.
Functions of the left and right hemispheres
The brain has two hemispheres, the right and the left. Both hemispheres specialise in several distinct functions (Kosslyn et al., 1995). We highlight the same below.
Right Hemisphere
The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. It is responsible for the artistic and creative functions of the brain. In general, it controls our awareness of art, creative thinking, imagination, intuitive thoughts, insight, spatial reasoning, awareness of music, holistic thinking, interpretation of 3D objects, and control over the left hand.
Left Hemisphere
The left hemisphere of the cerebrum is responsible for controlling the right side of the body. It is logical and rational, and more academic-oriented. It is responsible for logic, language, reasoning, processing of science and math, writing, and right-hand control.
Lateralization of Brain Function
The two hemispheres of the brain are connected by the corpus callosum. Both the hemispheres have strong symmetry when it comes to the structure as well as functions.
For example, when it comes to the structure, the lateral sulcus is found to be longer in the left hemisphere whereas the Broca’s and Wernicke’s area is located in the left hemisphere for 95% of people who are right-handers and 70% of people who are left-handers.
Roger Sorry has done commendable work on lateralisation as well as split-brain functions, and has also received a Nobel Prize for the same.
Result of Damage
People can get either side of the brain damaged if they undergo an injury or get a stroke. When the damage is on the left hemisphere, it can make it difficult for people to acquire spoken or written language.
They report not seeing things on the right side of their bodies. They also have a condition of limb apraxia, or motor skills problems (Samnia et al., 2000) and they tend to move slower and more carefully.
Damage to the right hemisphere of the brain can cause people to have difficulties with visual perception as well as spatial orientation (Newcombe & Russell, 1969), They can’t see the left side of their body at times, they can also become impulsive and make wrong or bad decisions.
They have short attention spans, bad reading abilities (Neininger & Pulvermüller, 2003), and difficulty in being creative. They also report problems in learning new skills.
Conclusion
This article answered the question “What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Mathematical and Spatial Reasoning?” The article also focused on highlighting the functions of different brain areas and will cover some frequently asked questions about the brain below.
Frequently Asked Questions: What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Mathematical and Spatial Reasoning?
What are the functions of the brain?
The functions of the brain include processing our thoughts, memory, and speech. It is also responsible for the movement of arms and legs, and other functions of the body. The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the spinal cord and the brain.
What are the 3 basic units of the brain?
The forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain are the three basic units into which the brain can be divided.
What is the most important part of the brain?
Although all the parts of the brain are important. The largest part of the brain is called the cerebrum which has two hemispheres which control voluntary movement, speech, memory, emotion, processing of sensory information, and intelligence.
References
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Gibson, K. R. (2002). Evolution of human intelligence: The roles of brain size and mental construction. Brain, behavior and evolution, 59(1-2), 10-20.
Kosslyn, S. M., Maljkovic, V., Hamilton, S. E., Horwitz, G., & Thompson, W. L. (1995). Two types of image generation: Evidence for left and right hemisphere processes. Neuropsychologia, 33(11), 1485-1510.
Yang Zhou, David J. Freedman. Posterior parietal cortex plays a causal role in perceptual and categorical decisions. Science, 2019 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw8347
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Smania N, Girardi F, Domenicali C, Lora E, Aglioti S. The rehabilitation of limb apraxia: a study in left-brain-damaged patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000 Apr;81(4):379-88. doi: 10.1053/mr.2000.6921. PMID: 10768524.
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