Behavioral equivalence, but not neural equivalence--neural evidence of alternative strategies in mathematical thinking.
In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we investigated how people solve mathematically equivalent problems presented in two alternative formats: verbal, story format or symbolic, equation format. Although representation format had no effect on behavior, anterior prefrontal activation was greater in the story condition and posterior parietal activation was greater in the equation condition. These results show that there exist alternative neural pathways that implement different and yet equally efficient problem-solving strategies.
Department of Psychology, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. mhsohn@gwu.edu
Myeong-Ho
MH
Sohn
Adam
A
Goode
Kenneth R
KR
Koedinger
V Andrew
VA
Stenger
Kate
K
Fissell
Cameron S
CS
Carter
John R
JR
Anderson
D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008433:Mathematics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time
D010100:Oxygen