Is Learning Math Pointless? Here's the Neuroscience 🧠
Is Learning Math Pointless? Here's the Neuroscience 🧠
How learning math changes the brain, and how we perceive reality. (8min Read)
TL;DR Summary:
Neil deGrasse Tyson argues that math isn’t just about solving equations; it's about reshaping your brain to improve problem-solving skills.
Learning math changes brain wiring, enhancing critical thinking, memory, emotional regulation, and executive functions.
Math education fosters creativity, persistence, and a systematic worldview, altering how you perceive and interact with reality.
Incorporating math into daily life, even as an adult, keeps your brain sharp and boosts your cognitive abilities.
Math isn’t just a subject—it’s a tool that equips you to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
“I’ll Never Use Math Again…”
Last week my dad sent me this video from Neil deGrasse Tyson: Neil deGrasse Tyson On Math’s Importance
In it, he combats the myth that we never use math again in our general lives with one of the most compelling arguments I’ve ever heard using neuroscience.
His argument is that learning math isn’t about being able to recite the Pythagorean theorem.
It’s that learning how to do math changes your brain and allows you to solve problems in a certain way.
You may never use the Pythagorean theorem but you will come up against other problems and having more tools in your problem-solving tool belt can help you throughout your life!
So it’s not about the theory, it’s about the shift in your brain wiring.
Naturally, my interest peaked.
Is there truth in what he’s saying? Does learning math actually change the brain in this way? If you’re an adult, is it too late?
Let’s find out!
Why Learning Math Isn't About Trigonometry: It's About Shaping Your Brain
Research shows that early exposure to math significantly influences brain development.
For instance, studies have found that children who engage in regular math practice show increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region associated with complex thinking and decision-making.
Furthermore, math education enhances the brain's ability to process information quickly and efficiently, which is crucial for both academic success and everyday problem-solving.
Moreover, math has been linked to improved memory and better emotional regulation.
The process of learning math helps regulate fear and anxiety by strengthening the neural networks involved in controlling these emotions.
This means that the skills you build in math class can also help you navigate stress and anxiety in other areas of your life.
How Math Rewires Your Brain
When you engage in math, your brain undergoes structural and functional changes.
These changes are a part of neuroplasticity, where the brain's ability to adapt and rewire itself is harnessed to strengthen specific neural pathways.
As you practice math, particularly during childhood when the brain is most malleable, the connections between neurons are reinforced.
This is akin to how physical exercise strengthens muscles.
The repeated engagement with math tasks increases the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which play a crucial role in learning and memory.
Over time, this leads to more efficient brain function, particularly in areas related to logical reasoning, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility.
And remember, the brain works in networks, not just regions!
Math education helps build and refine these large-scale neural networks when we’re young.
These networks are not confined to any single region but involve complex interactions between multiple areas, including those associated with spatial reasoning, memory retrieval, and even language processing.
Enhancement of Executive Functions
Engaging with math also enhances executive functions, which are high-level cognitive processes that include working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.
These functions are critical for managing complex tasks, making decisions, and solving problems throughout your life.
Here are some examples of these kinds of functions:
Working Memory: This allows you to hold and manipulate information in your mind, such as when solving multi-step problems.
Inhibitory Control: Helps in suppressing irrelevant or distracting information, allowing you to focus on the problem at hand.
Cognitive Flexibility: Enables you to switch between different strategies or perspectives when solving problems, a skill that is particularly useful in both math and everyday life.
Enhancing Analytical Thinking: Breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts is a key aspect of math education. This skill is directly transferable to real-life scenarios, whether you're troubleshooting a technical issue at work or making a major life decision.
The Problem-Solving Toolbelt: Beyond Math Class
The enhancement of these core executive functions helps develop problem-solving skills you can use your entire life like Neil deGrasse Tyson suggests in his video.
Here are some examples:
Logical Reasoning: Math teaches you to follow logical steps to reach a conclusion. Whether you're debating a point, planning a project, or negotiating a contract, this logical structure helps you make sound decisions.
Creativity in Problem-Solving: Surprisingly, math fosters creativity. Problems often require thinking outside the box, finding novel approaches, and making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. This kind of creative problem-solving is essential in fields as diverse as science, art, and business.
Persistence and Resilience: Math can be frustrating. But this frustration is valuable—it teaches persistence. The determination to work through a challenging problem without giving up is a skill that serves you well in every area of life, from personal relationships to career growth.
How Math Shapes Our Perception of Reality
It’s more than problem-solving though… It fundamentally alters how we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Through its influence on various cognitive processes, math can shape our understanding of reality in profound ways.
Enhancing Abstract Reasoning: Mathematical concepts, particularly those found in algebra and geometry, develop abstract thinking skills. These skills enable you to conceptualize complex or intangible ideas, which is crucial for understanding and reasoning about the broader aspects of reality.
Fostering a Systematic Worldview: Math's logical and systematic nature promotes a structured way of viewing the world. This systematic approach can influence how you interpret events, solve problems, and make decisions, fostering a more organized and coherent understanding of reality.
Shaping Perceptions of Capability: Positive experiences in math can significantly boost your self-efficacy, or belief in your own abilities. This enhanced self-concept doesn’t just apply to math but can extend to other areas of life, influencing how capable you feel in tackling various challenges.
Influencing Emotional Regulation: There’s a fascinating connection between math skills and emotional regulation. Research suggests that the cognitive processes involved in solving math problems can help improve how you manage emotions.
Developing Metacognitive Skills: Math education also enhances metacognitive skills—your ability to think about your own thinking. This self-awareness can transfer to other domains, altering how you reflect on and learn from your experiences. By understanding your thought processes, you can better navigate complex situations, make more informed decisions, and continuously improve how you interact with reality.
Enhancing Spatial Reasoning: Geometry and other spatial aspects of math improve your ability to visualize and manipulate objects in space. This spatial reasoning ability directly impacts how you perceive and interact with your physical environment, whether it’s navigating through a city, understanding architectural designs, or simply arranging objects in your home.
The cognitive tools developed through math education have a profound impact on how you perceive, analyze, and interact with the world.
By shaping your cognitive processes, math fundamentally alters your understanding of reality, equipping you with the skills needed to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and clarity.
Why You Should Keep Math in Your Life
So, not only was Neil right, he was very right.
This insight has profoundly shifted the way that I look at math overall.
I truly used to hate it, and would get flustered just thinking about how much time I wasted learning it, but now, I’m so happy I did!
Even if you're not a student anymore, incorporating math into your daily life can keep your brain sharp and your problem-solving skills honed.
Here are a few simple ways I’ve started add some more math to my life after realizing this:
Puzzles and Games: Engage in activities that challenge your math skills, such as Sudoku, chess, or logic puzzles. These games stimulate the brain and enhance your ability to think critically.
Financial Planning: Use your math skills in budgeting, saving, and investing. Understanding the principles of compound interest, for instance, can be incredibly empowering and lead to better financial decisions.
Daily Math Practice: Simple tasks like calculating tips, converting measurements in recipes, or managing your expenses can keep your brain engaged with mathematical thinking.
Learning New Concepts: Explore new areas of math that interest you. Online courses or apps can make learning math fun and accessible, no matter your age. I use an app called Brilliant for this, but YouTube works great too!
“When Will I Use This Again?!”
The next time you hear someone ask, "When will I ever use this again?" send them this blog!
You now know that learning math isn't just about the equations or formulas you solve in school.
It's about equipping your brain with a powerful set of tools that help you navigate life's challenges with creativity, logic, and resilience.
By continuing to engage with math throughout your life, you're not just solving problems—you're shaping a mind that's ready for anything.
I hope learning this concept rekindles a desire to learn math for you just like it has me!
Until next time… Live Heroically 🧠
Supporting Research
Ahrens, S., & Preiß, J. (2020). The role of mathematical thinking in cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 32(3), 499-514.
Kucian, K., & von Aster, M. (2015). Developmental dyscalculia and the role of the intraparietal sulcus in mathematical thinking. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(789), 1-12.
Peters, L., De Smedt, B., & Op de Beeck, H. (2018). The neural correlates of arithmetic problem-solving: an fMRI study on the role of numerical and spatial processing. Cortex, 101, 18-29.
Ashcraft, M. H., & Krause, J. A. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(2), 243-248.
Supekar, K., & Menon, V. (2012). Developmental maturation of dynamic causal control signals in higher-order cognition: A neurocognitive network model of mathematical problem-solving. PLoS Computational Biology, 8(10), e1002587.