A new study by Dr.Ian Lyons of the University of Chicago, has linked the sensation of physical pain with the anticipation of math in "math anxious" groups.
Using fMRI brain scans, they found that when people in the "math anxious" group were told that they would be doing math problems the area of the brain known as the posterior insula would become active. This is the same area of the brain that is responsible for registering threats and experiencing pain.
Interestingly though, once the participants started actually doing math problems the area was no longer active.
A true case of a "dogs" bark being worst than its bite.
Read more about this at:
Popular Science
or read the actual research study at:
PLOS one, open access journal
This is the same area of the help me with math brain that is responsible for registering threats and experiencing pain.
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