Daniel Ansari | Western University Canada (original) (raw)

Papers by Daniel Ansari

Background. Educational neuroscience is an emerging scientific field that seeks to translate and ... more Background. Educational neuroscience is an emerging scientific field that seeks to translate and apply research findings from neuroscience to educational theory and practice. However, the practical potential for such collaboration has been met with mixed degrees of enthusiasm. Many researchers, both in education and neuroscience, question what, if anything, neuroscience can offer to our understanding of learning and instruction that is not or cannot be addressed by behavioral research alone. Aims.

If the brain is considered the 'organ for learning'(eg Hart, 1983, p. 10) and one of the goals of... more If the brain is considered the 'organ for learning'(eg Hart, 1983, p. 10) and one of the goals of education is learning, it seems sensible that brain research might have something valuable to contribute to education and, in turn, that education could have something valuable to contribute to brain research. Indeed, in recent years, educators have become increasingly enthusiastic about what neuroscience can offer to education (eg Pickering & Howard-Jones, 2007).

This glossary contains technical terms in cognitive neuroscience that are used in the original ar... more This glossary contains technical terms in cognitive neuroscience that are used in the original articles of the present special issue. It was created based on the article authors' suggestions of relevant terms and explanations which we gratefully acknowledge. 10–20 system An internationally recognized system to determine the location of EEG electrodes on the scalp.

The first insights into the neural basis of numerical and mathematical cognition were gleaned at ... more The first insights into the neural basis of numerical and mathematical cognition were gleaned at the beginning of the twentieth century through the study of brain-damaged patients (Henschen, 1919 12. Henschen, SE 1919. Uber sprach-, musik-, und rechenmechanismen und ihre lokalisationen im grobhirn. Zeitschrift fur die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie, 52: 273–298.

Abstract In the present article, we provide a critical overview of the emerging field of 'neuroed... more Abstract In the present article, we provide a critical overview of the emerging field of 'neuroeducation'also frequently referred to as 'mind, brain and education'or 'educational neuroscience'. We describe the growing energy behind linking education and neuroscience in an effort to improve learning and instruction. We explore reasons behind such drives for interdisciplinary research.

Zusammenfassung: Numerische Kenntnisse bilden ein wichtiges Fundament für die schulische und beru... more Zusammenfassung: Numerische Kenntnisse bilden ein wichtiges Fundament für die schulische und berufliche Entwicklung. Viele Kinder leiden jedoch unter großen Schwierigkeiten beim Erlernen numerischer Kompetenzen und werden oft mit einer «entwicklungsbedingten Dyskalkulie» diagnostiziert.

The neural foundations of arithmetic learning are not well understood. While behavioral studies h... more The neural foundations of arithmetic learning are not well understood. While behavioral studies have revealed relationships between symbolic number processing and individual differences in children's arithmetic performance, the neurocognitive mechanisms that bind symbolic number processing and arithmetic are unknown. The current fMRI study investigated the relationship between children's brain activation during symbolic number comparison (Arabic digits) and individual differences in arithmetic fluency.

It appears that more agreement is reached on the brain areas related to basic number processing. ... more It appears that more agreement is reached on the brain areas related to basic number processing. Many brain imaging experiments in humans and monkeys, and studies on patients with brain lesions have shown a strong involvement of the horizontal segment of the intraparietal sulcus (hIPS) in number processing.

In recent years, the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging methods, such as functional Magnetic Res... more In recent years, the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging methods, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has provided an important complement to behavioral investigations of cognitive processes. Together with traditional neuropsychological studies of brain-damaged patients, these investigations have lead to the creation of a new field of research: Cognitive Neuroscience. The combination of behavioral and neuroscientific empirical studies is starting to reveal how the brain enables the mind.

Abstract 1. When the proportion of congruent trials in conflict tasks is manipulated (eg, Stroop,... more Abstract 1. When the proportion of congruent trials in conflict tasks is manipulated (eg, Stroop, Simon), the typical result is that the magnitude of the conflict effect increases as the proportion of congruent trials increases. The present experiment investigated the influence of Congruency Proportion in the context of the Size Congruity Paradigm.

Abstract One might expect that children with varying genetic mutations or children raised in low ... more Abstract One might expect that children with varying genetic mutations or children raised in low socioeconomic status environments would display different deficits. Although this expectation may hold for phenotypic outcomes in older children and adults, cross-syndrome comparisons in infancy reveal many common neural and sociocognitive deficits. The challenge is to track dynamic trajectories over developmental time rather than focus on end states like in adult neuropsychological studies.

Mathematical skills are of critical importance, both academically and in everyday life. Neuroimag... more Mathematical skills are of critical importance, both academically and in everyday life. Neuroimaging research has primarily focused on the relationship between mathematical skills and functional brain activity. Comparatively few studies have examined which white matter regions support mathematical abilities. The current study uses diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to test whether individual differences in white matter predict performance on the math subtest of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

Abstract 1. Are numerals estranged from a sense of the actual quantities they represent? We demon... more Abstract 1. Are numerals estranged from a sense of the actual quantities they represent? We demonstrate that, irrespective of numerical size or distance, direct comparison of the relative quantities represented by symbolic and nonsymbolic formats leads to performance markedly worse than when comparing 2 nonsymbolic quantities (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 shows that this effect cannot be attributed to differences in perceptual processing streams.

Abstract While the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in mental arithmetic, ... more Abstract While the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in mental arithmetic, its precise functional role has not been established. On the one hand, it has been speculated that the lAG is involved in task-specific processes. On the other hand, the observation of relative deactivation during arithmetic has led to the contention that differential lAG activation reflects task-unrelated difficulty effects associated with the default mode network (DMN).

The ability to process the numerical magnitude of sets of items has been characterized in many an... more The ability to process the numerical magnitude of sets of items has been characterized in many animal species. Neuroimaging data have associated this ability to represent nonsymbolic numerical magnitudes (eg, arrays of dots) with activity in the bilateral parietal lobes. Yet the quantitative abilities of humans are not limited to processing the numerical magnitude of nonsymbolic sets. Humans have used this quantitative sense as the foundation for symbolic systems for the representation of numerical magnitude.

Cognitive neuroscience has started to probe cross-cultural differences in the neuronal mechanisms... more Cognitive neuroscience has started to probe cross-cultural differences in the neuronal mechanisms underlying cognitive, perceptual and social domains. Moreover, brain imaging has revealed how education changes the brain. Such research opens up a new frontier in brain plasticity research, breaking down the boundaries between neuroscience and other traditionally non-biological disciplines, resulting in many conceptual and practical implications.

Both neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies have identified brain regions that ar... more Both neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies have identified brain regions that are critical for the neurocognitive processes related to the calculation of arithmetic problems. In particular, the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in arithmetic problem solving and found to be most activated during the retrieval of arithmetic facts.

Abstract Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which, it is claimed, language abilities... more Abstract Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which, it is claimed, language abilities are relatively strong despite mild to moderate mental retardation. Such claims have, in turn, been interpreted as evidence either for modular preservation of language or for atypical constraints on cognitive development.

Background. Educational neuroscience is an emerging scientific field that seeks to translate and ... more Background. Educational neuroscience is an emerging scientific field that seeks to translate and apply research findings from neuroscience to educational theory and practice. However, the practical potential for such collaboration has been met with mixed degrees of enthusiasm. Many researchers, both in education and neuroscience, question what, if anything, neuroscience can offer to our understanding of learning and instruction that is not or cannot be addressed by behavioral research alone. Aims.

If the brain is considered the 'organ for learning'(eg Hart, 1983, p. 10) and one of the goals of... more If the brain is considered the 'organ for learning'(eg Hart, 1983, p. 10) and one of the goals of education is learning, it seems sensible that brain research might have something valuable to contribute to education and, in turn, that education could have something valuable to contribute to brain research. Indeed, in recent years, educators have become increasingly enthusiastic about what neuroscience can offer to education (eg Pickering & Howard-Jones, 2007).

This glossary contains technical terms in cognitive neuroscience that are used in the original ar... more This glossary contains technical terms in cognitive neuroscience that are used in the original articles of the present special issue. It was created based on the article authors' suggestions of relevant terms and explanations which we gratefully acknowledge. 10–20 system An internationally recognized system to determine the location of EEG electrodes on the scalp.

The first insights into the neural basis of numerical and mathematical cognition were gleaned at ... more The first insights into the neural basis of numerical and mathematical cognition were gleaned at the beginning of the twentieth century through the study of brain-damaged patients (Henschen, 1919 12. Henschen, SE 1919. Uber sprach-, musik-, und rechenmechanismen und ihre lokalisationen im grobhirn. Zeitschrift fur die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie, 52: 273–298.

Abstract In the present article, we provide a critical overview of the emerging field of 'neuroed... more Abstract In the present article, we provide a critical overview of the emerging field of 'neuroeducation'also frequently referred to as 'mind, brain and education'or 'educational neuroscience'. We describe the growing energy behind linking education and neuroscience in an effort to improve learning and instruction. We explore reasons behind such drives for interdisciplinary research.

Zusammenfassung: Numerische Kenntnisse bilden ein wichtiges Fundament für die schulische und beru... more Zusammenfassung: Numerische Kenntnisse bilden ein wichtiges Fundament für die schulische und berufliche Entwicklung. Viele Kinder leiden jedoch unter großen Schwierigkeiten beim Erlernen numerischer Kompetenzen und werden oft mit einer «entwicklungsbedingten Dyskalkulie» diagnostiziert.

The neural foundations of arithmetic learning are not well understood. While behavioral studies h... more The neural foundations of arithmetic learning are not well understood. While behavioral studies have revealed relationships between symbolic number processing and individual differences in children's arithmetic performance, the neurocognitive mechanisms that bind symbolic number processing and arithmetic are unknown. The current fMRI study investigated the relationship between children's brain activation during symbolic number comparison (Arabic digits) and individual differences in arithmetic fluency.

It appears that more agreement is reached on the brain areas related to basic number processing. ... more It appears that more agreement is reached on the brain areas related to basic number processing. Many brain imaging experiments in humans and monkeys, and studies on patients with brain lesions have shown a strong involvement of the horizontal segment of the intraparietal sulcus (hIPS) in number processing.

In recent years, the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging methods, such as functional Magnetic Res... more In recent years, the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging methods, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has provided an important complement to behavioral investigations of cognitive processes. Together with traditional neuropsychological studies of brain-damaged patients, these investigations have lead to the creation of a new field of research: Cognitive Neuroscience. The combination of behavioral and neuroscientific empirical studies is starting to reveal how the brain enables the mind.

Abstract 1. When the proportion of congruent trials in conflict tasks is manipulated (eg, Stroop,... more Abstract 1. When the proportion of congruent trials in conflict tasks is manipulated (eg, Stroop, Simon), the typical result is that the magnitude of the conflict effect increases as the proportion of congruent trials increases. The present experiment investigated the influence of Congruency Proportion in the context of the Size Congruity Paradigm.

Abstract One might expect that children with varying genetic mutations or children raised in low ... more Abstract One might expect that children with varying genetic mutations or children raised in low socioeconomic status environments would display different deficits. Although this expectation may hold for phenotypic outcomes in older children and adults, cross-syndrome comparisons in infancy reveal many common neural and sociocognitive deficits. The challenge is to track dynamic trajectories over developmental time rather than focus on end states like in adult neuropsychological studies.

Mathematical skills are of critical importance, both academically and in everyday life. Neuroimag... more Mathematical skills are of critical importance, both academically and in everyday life. Neuroimaging research has primarily focused on the relationship between mathematical skills and functional brain activity. Comparatively few studies have examined which white matter regions support mathematical abilities. The current study uses diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to test whether individual differences in white matter predict performance on the math subtest of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

Abstract 1. Are numerals estranged from a sense of the actual quantities they represent? We demon... more Abstract 1. Are numerals estranged from a sense of the actual quantities they represent? We demonstrate that, irrespective of numerical size or distance, direct comparison of the relative quantities represented by symbolic and nonsymbolic formats leads to performance markedly worse than when comparing 2 nonsymbolic quantities (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 shows that this effect cannot be attributed to differences in perceptual processing streams.

Abstract While the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in mental arithmetic, ... more Abstract While the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in mental arithmetic, its precise functional role has not been established. On the one hand, it has been speculated that the lAG is involved in task-specific processes. On the other hand, the observation of relative deactivation during arithmetic has led to the contention that differential lAG activation reflects task-unrelated difficulty effects associated with the default mode network (DMN).

The ability to process the numerical magnitude of sets of items has been characterized in many an... more The ability to process the numerical magnitude of sets of items has been characterized in many animal species. Neuroimaging data have associated this ability to represent nonsymbolic numerical magnitudes (eg, arrays of dots) with activity in the bilateral parietal lobes. Yet the quantitative abilities of humans are not limited to processing the numerical magnitude of nonsymbolic sets. Humans have used this quantitative sense as the foundation for symbolic systems for the representation of numerical magnitude.

Cognitive neuroscience has started to probe cross-cultural differences in the neuronal mechanisms... more Cognitive neuroscience has started to probe cross-cultural differences in the neuronal mechanisms underlying cognitive, perceptual and social domains. Moreover, brain imaging has revealed how education changes the brain. Such research opens up a new frontier in brain plasticity research, breaking down the boundaries between neuroscience and other traditionally non-biological disciplines, resulting in many conceptual and practical implications.

Both neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies have identified brain regions that ar... more Both neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies have identified brain regions that are critical for the neurocognitive processes related to the calculation of arithmetic problems. In particular, the left angular gyrus (lAG) has been repeatedly implicated in arithmetic problem solving and found to be most activated during the retrieval of arithmetic facts.

Abstract Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which, it is claimed, language abilities... more Abstract Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which, it is claimed, language abilities are relatively strong despite mild to moderate mental retardation. Such claims have, in turn, been interpreted as evidence either for modular preservation of language or for atypical constraints on cognitive development.