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Brain activity associated with translation from a visual to a symbolic representation in algebra and geometry

RANGE Center, Laboratory for "Neuro-Cognitive Examination of Giftedness", Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

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Ilana Waisman

RANGE Center, Laboratory for "Neuro-Cognitive Examination of Giftedness", Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

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Shelley Shaul

RANGE Center, Laboratory for "Neuro-Cognitive Examination of Giftedness", Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

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and

Roza Leikin

RANGE Center, Laboratory for "Neuro-Cognitive Examination of Giftedness", Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219635214500034Cited by:4

Abstract

This paper presents a small part of a larger interdisciplinary study that investigates brain activity (using event related potential methodology) of male adolescents when solving mathematical problems of different types. The study design links mathematics education research with neurocognitive studies. In this paper we performed a comparative analysis of brain activity associated with the translation from visual to symbolic representations of mathematical objects in algebra and geometry. Algebraic tasks require translation from graphical to symbolic representation of a function, whereas tasks in geometry require translation from a drawing of a geometric figure to a symbolic representation of its property. The findings demonstrate that electrical activity associated with the performance of geometrical tasks is stronger than that associated with solving algebraic tasks. Additionally, we found different scalp topography of the brain activity associated with algebraic and geometric tasks. Based on these results, we argue that problem solving in algebra and geometry is associated with different patterns of brain activity.

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Published: 25 March 2014

Vol. 13, No. 01

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Received 31 October 2013

Accepted 29 January 2014

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Brain activity associated with translation from a visual to a symbolic representation in algebra and geometry

Abstract

References

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