# How (and Where) the Brain Analyzes Math and Language When Spoken

Math and language processed by separate networks even if heard together.

Separate math and language networks segregate naturally when listeners pay attention to one type over the other, according to research recently published in JNeurosci.

Mathematical language borrows words from everyday speech, yet the brain processes math and language in two separate networks. While previous studies examined how these networks process written numbers and words, few looked at the processing of spoken mathematical language.

Sentence and equation rate responses are significantly correlated with behavior only if attended, while both attended and unattended word rate responses are significantly correlated with behavior. The sentence rate response is significantly correlated over regions in left temporal, parietal, and frontal areas, while significant correlation for the equation rate response is seen in left parietal and occipital regions. Credit: Kulasingham et al., JNeurosci 2021

Kulasingham et al. used MEG to measure the brain activity of participants while they listened to recordings of simple math equations (five plus one is six) and sentences (cats drink warm milk). In a “cocktail party paradigm,” the equations and sentences played at the same time and participants had to focus on one and ignore the other.

Equations triggered activity in the parietal lobe, an area involved in number processing, and sentences triggered activity in the temporal lobe, a language region. Brain activity oscillated with, or tracked, every word and math symbol, indicating the brain processes their acoustics even if attention was directed away from them. Activity also tracked each sentence or equation — whichever stimulus was focused on — despite the lack of any pauses or inflections to distinguish them from each other.

The results reveal how the brain analyzes the features of different kinds of speech, which may be linked to how we comprehend sentences and calculate equations.

Reference: “Cortical Processing of Arithmetic and Simple Sentences in an Auditory Attention Task” by Joshua P. Kulasingham, Neha H. Joshi, Mohsen Rezaeizadeh and Jonathan Z. Simon, 16 August 2021, JNeurosci.
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0269-21.2021

#### 5 Commentson "How (and Where) the Brain Analyzes Math and Language When Spoken"

1. I just received an important email.

The recognition of division by zero and its implementation on computers will progress rapidly.

This is because they have already learned the division by zero method from the process and have been discussing it.

They are already paying attention to the first issue of the magazine.

2021.7.30. 6:12

Dear Researcher,

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2. Ankur Tiwari’s Great Discovery of the Division by Zero $1/0 = \tan (\pi/2) = 0$ on $2011$

Authors:　Saburou SaitohYoshinori Saitoh

https://vixra.org/abs/2003.0071

https://vixra.org/pdf/2003.0071v1.pdf

3. It was shortened to 45 minutes.

https://media.cmd.gunma-u.ac.jp/media/Play/ba02ed49e73949ff84dedcd3e41f76b41d

For Fundamental of Mathematics, I think the division by zero was known as the generalized Moore-Penrose solution of the fundamental equation: ax=b. Please look the simple evidence of its importance: viXra:2010.0228 submitted on 2020-10-28 21:39:06,
Division by Zero Calculus and Euclidean Geometry – Revolution in Euclidean Geometry I gave a simple talk for its essence at some international conference: https://media.cmd.gunma-u.ac.jp/media/Play/ef7ca967c3fd4dabb188128fd6038cb81d

I think our mathematics is not complete still in a serious sense.May I hear your kind comments and suggestions on my idea? Saburou Saitoh2021.1.10.07:55

4. ゼロ除算の論文、雑誌　最高のダウンロードを　続けている。
Most popular papers in Advances in Linear Algebra & Matrix Theory

Matrices and Division by Zero z/0 = 0
Tsutomu Matsuura, Saburou Saitoh

Abstract | References Full-Text HTML XML Pub. Date: June 14, 2016

On Classes of Matrices with Variants of the Diagonal Dominance Property
Farid O. Farid

Abstract | References Full-Text HTML XML Pub. Date: June 21, 2017