Neuroimaging study of partial differential equation reading in brain

Enhancing equation comprehension with index finger writing: An fMRI study

“…This work for the first time compared the brain activity in differential equation reading and writing by selected professionals using fMRI. In silent reading test, as Wang et al (2008) addressed, the equation reading signal is sent from visual processing areas through the left superior parietal lobule (BA 7) and middle frontal gyrus (BA 6) to the superior frontal gyrus (BA 8 and 9) and Broca area (BA 45). Finger writing does not change this message pathway, but firing the Primary Somatosensory Cortex (BA 1-3) and Primary Motor Cortex (BA 4) to enhance stimuli on BA 6 and 7.…”

“…Owing to hand movement involved, the stimulation on Brodmann areas 1-4 was obvious in all finger writing tests. On joke reading and writing, a total of 42 and 71 voxels on the left and right superior parietal lobule (BA 7), and 142 volexs were fired for the left middle frontal gyrus (BA 6), respectively, much higher than those recorded for silent joke reading only (13, 0 and 5 voxels, respectively) (Wang et al, 2008). Additionally, the left superior frontal gyrus (BA 8 and 9) was fired in joke reading and writing test, which was not noted in the silent reading test.…”

“…www.elsevier.com/locate/jcice Two block designs were utilized: (1) reading the following heat conduction equation silently, rC p ð@T=@tÞ ¼ kð@ 2 T=@x 2 Þþ q; (2) reading silently and writing using right index finger the equation mentioned in (1). For comparison sake, the joke cited in Wang et al (2008) was used replacing equation in some tests.…”

“…As Wang et al (2008) addressed, the joke reading signal was sent from visual processing areas [V1-3] to the left superior parietal lobule (BA 7, Somatosensory Association Cortex) via a dorsal stream for conscious awareness. Further processing was generally weak.…”

“…However, building modeling capability for a physical phenomenon using differential equations is central to chemical engineering education (Arlabosse and Chitu, 2007;Hwang et al, 2006;Islam et al, 2007;Kung, 2006;Lee et al, 2006Lee et al, , 2007Otawara and Kitamura, 2006;Seginer and Bux, 2006;Seginer et al, 2007;Tao et al, 2006;Tien and Ramarao, 2006). Wang et al (2008) for the first time measured the brain activities in joke and equation reading. These authors noted that the equation message was received by V1 then was sent through the left superior parietal lobule (Brodmann area 7 in area 3e) and middle frontal gyrus (Brodmann area 6, BA 6) to the superior frontal gyrus (BA 8 and 9) and Broca area (BA 45).…”