Review: The number sense

13Th June 2011 | by Sol |

Oxford University Press sent me a review copy of The number sense: how the mind creates mathematics, revised and updated edition of Stanislas Dehaene. The book is an update of the original version, which was released in 1997.

The author writes in the foreword of this new edition, that the objective of the first edition of the book was

"to bring together all the facts about how the brain operates elementary arithmetic, and prove that a new and promising field of research, ripe with empirical, Dawning."

This new edition updates the reader about the results within the numerical cognition. Wikipedia has a nice introduction to the topic, including a list of questions in the Centre of the field.

How non-human animals process numerosity? How do infants acquire an understanding of numbers (and how much is inborn)? How do humans associate linguistic symbols to numerical quantities? What lies behind our ability to perform complex calculations these capabilities? What are the neural bases of these abilities, both humans and non-humans? What metaphorical capacities and processes allow us to extend our numerical understanding in complex domains such as the concept of infinity, of infinitesimal or the concept of limit in calculus?

Like most of the popular mathematical books I read, I have not read "The number sense" from cover to cover. When I wanted to take a break from some other task I lodge a book and read a paragraph or three. I was not about the book streamed (as one Amazon reviewer expressed concern over) or whether it had consistency, but I would be fascinated by interesting stories number sense and I was not disappointed.

Chapter 6, Geniuses, and Prodi gies, was my favorite part of the book. Dehaeny tells of a seriously disabled autistic man who can instantly factor of three-digit numbers, and who can say, in another, if a three-digit number is prime minister or not. Dehaeny compares so self-absorbed man to great Ramanujan. What has two common? Dehaeny claim that both men have a relationship with numbers that far exceed the ordinary. So, there is the question of mathematical talent is a biological gift. And there is a guided exploration to the passion to develop talents in mathematics role. Finally, explains Dehaeny some techniques lightning calculators uses to perform their feats. All this in one chapter.

No discussion of number sense would be complete without an exploration of how infants relates to numbers. And if it is not interesting enough, then how about the question of the meaning of the numbers of animals? Talk about issues, I usually like to books which asks fascinating questions, and this makes. Here are some examples.

The numbers have color and occupy space?In what age are children be able to tell the difference between two and three?What the fact that a dozen people in the world suffering from epileptic fits only during the execution of arithmetic (but not other intellectual activities) tells us about the human brain?How can an idiot sçavans with IQs of 50 or less, perform calendar arithmetic delafgørelser?How has our understanding of number sense developed in the 15 years since the first edition of the book was published?

I liked "Number sense." It is a well-written and very exciting book. It is a nice blend of psychology, brain biology with light Math.

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