Contents:
- Medical Video: What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova
- What part of the brain works when we study mathematics?
- Is it true that learning mathematics can increase intelligence?
- You don't even need to work on math problems that are too difficult
- Math exercises can also prevent senility
Medical Video: What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova
You must have worked on math questions given by the teacher or parent. When learning mathematics, some people may feel bored or lazy. In fact, learning mathematics has many benefits, not only so that you are good at counting. One of the important benefits of learning mathematics is supporting brain function and increasing intelligence.
What part of the brain works when we study mathematics?
The human brain consists of four "rooms", which are known in the language of medicine as lobes. The four rooms are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Each of these rooms has different locations and different functions.
When you study mathematics, the frontal and parietal lobes will work more actively. The frontal lobe itself is located in the area of your forehead and serves to process new information, think logically, regulate body movements, and speak.
The second part of the brain that works hard when you study mathematics is the parietal lobe. Its function is to regulate the sense of touch (touch), detect location and direction, and count.
Is it true that learning mathematics can increase intelligence?
Research conducted by Professor Ryuta Kawashima tried to compare the brains of the study participants who played the game with research participants who work on math problems that are quite easy (eg addition, subtraction, and multiplication). Initially the experts thought participants who played the game would have more active brains than those who worked on mathematics. However, it turns out that there are more active parts of the brain when doing math than when playing the game.
When you work on easy math problems, the prefrontal area in your brain will become active. This section serves to learn and think logically. Even when you are working on easy multiplication questions (like 4 × 4), it turns out that the part of the brain that functions to speak also becomes active.
This is because unconsciously your brain will recall reading the multiplication table. This is what makes the part of your brain that functions to read also becomes active.
In addition, working on math problems can also activate both sides of your brain (left and right side). Therefore, Professor Ryuta Kawashima recommends that you work on simple math questions for a while before you will do something difficult. This will make you process information more efficiently because your brain is activated.
You don't even need to work on math problems that are too difficult
Maybe you think that the more difficult the problem is, the more active part of the brain. In fact, this is not the case. It is precisely when you are working on difficult math problems, only the left side of the brain works. The left side of the brain is an area that functions to regulate language (in right-handed people).
Why so? It turns out when working on a difficult question, for example 54: (0.51-0.9) then of course you don't know the answer right away. You will instead read the problem many times. This is what makes your left brain part, which plays an important role in language function, which must work hard.
It's different from when you work on easy questions, because the left and right sides of your brain will be active in a balanced manner.
Math exercises can also prevent senility
Apparently, mathematics can help prevent and overcome senility, especially in those who are elderly. Yes, reading math questions while speaking it turns out to be able to prevent senility getting worse.
In old age, generally there will be a decrease in thinking ability. Especially in the prefrontal section that will be activated if you work on math problems. There will be two processes in the part of the brain to process it, namely the ability to read questions and numbers, operate the numbers, and move the hand to write the formula, count, and the results of the answer. This simple thing can actually improve thinking skills and reduce senile severity.
