Parietal and hippocampal hyper-connectivity is associated with low math achievement in adolescence – a preliminary study

Abstract

Mathematical cognition requires coordinated activity across multiple brain regions, leading to the emergence of resting-state functional connectivity as a method for studying the neural basis of differences in mathematical achievement. Hyper-connectivity of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a key locus of mathematical and numerical processing, has been associated with poor mathematical skills in childhood, whereas greater connectivity has been related to better performance in adulthood. No studies to date have considered its role in adolescence. Further, hippocampal connectivity can predict mathematical learning, yet no studies have considered its contributions to contemporaneous measures of math achievement. Here, we used seed-based resting-state fMRI analyses to examine IPS and hippocampal intrinsic functional connectivity relations to math achievement in a group of 31 adolescents (mean age=16.42 years, range 15-17), whose math performance spanned the 1% to 99% percentile. After controlling for IQ, IPS connectivity was negatively related to math achievement, akin to findings in children. However, the specific temporooccipital regions, were more akin to the posterior loci implicated in adults. Hippocampal connectivity with frontal regions was also negatively correlated with concurrent math measures, which contrasts with results from learning studies. Finally, hyper-connectivity was not a global feature of low math performance, as connectivity of Heschl’s gyrus, a control seed not involved in math cognition, was not modulated by math performance. Together, our results point to adolescence as a transitional stage in which patterns found in childhood and adulthood can be observed; most notably, hyper-connectivity continues to be related to low math ability in this period.

Long‐term abacus training gains in children are predicted by medial temporal lobe anatomy and circuitry

“…Instead, our analysis of functional connectivity of the PPC with other parietal, frontal, and VTOC regions revealed a negative correlation with long-term math learning gains in the AMC group. This finding is consistent with prior research suggesting that hyperconnectivity between the PPC and other brain regions negatively impacts math abilities (Abreu-Mendoza et al, 2021;Jolles et al, 2016;Price et al, 2018;Rosenberg-Lee et al, 2015). Moreover, similar to present findings, a recent arithmetic training study also observed reduced involvement of parietal circuits and increased engagement of hippocampal circuits associated with learning, which has been linked to reduced reliance on procedure based processing and increased use of retrieval based problem-solving strategy (Fias et al, 2021).…”