Article ; Online: Distinct neuronal representation of small and large numbers in the human medial temporal lobe.
Nature human behaviour
2023 Volume 7, Issue 11, Page(s) 1998–2007
Abstract: Whether small numerical quantities are represented by a special subitizing system that is distinct from a large-number estimation system has been debated for over a century. Here we show that two separate neural mechanisms underlie the representation of ... ...
Abstract | Whether small numerical quantities are represented by a special subitizing system that is distinct from a large-number estimation system has been debated for over a century. Here we show that two separate neural mechanisms underlie the representation of small and large numbers. We performed single neuron recordings in the medial temporal lobe of neurosurgical patients judging numbers. We found a boundary in neuronal coding around number 4 that correlates with the behavioural transition from subitizing to estimation. In the subitizing range, neurons showed superior tuning selectivity accompanied by suppression effects suggestive of surround inhibition as a selectivity-increasing mechanism. In contrast, tuning selectivity decreased with increasing numbers beyond 4, characterizing a ratio-dependent number estimation system. The two systems with the coding boundary separating them were also indicated using decoding and clustering analyses. The identified small-number subitizing system could be linked to attention and working memory that show comparable capacity limitations. |
---|---|
MeSH term(s) | Humans ; Attention/physiology ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology ; Temporal Lobe ; Neurons ; Mathematics |
Language | English |
Publishing date | 2023-10-02 |
Publishing country | England |
Document type | Journal Article |
ISSN | 2397-3374 |
ISSN (online) | 2397-3374 |
DOI | 10.1038/s41562-023-01709-3 |
Database | MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE |
More links
Kategorien
Order via subito
This service is chargeable due to the Delivery terms set by subito. Orders including an article and supplementary material will be classified as separate orders. In these cases, fees will be demanded for each order.
Inter-library loan at ZB MED
Your chosen title can be delivered directly to ZB MED Cologne location if you are registered as a user at ZB MED Cologne.