Computation and Neural Systems Seminar

Since ancient times the problem of numbers has captured the interest of philosophers and scientists alike. While extensive research has been dedicated to the mental processes involved in mathematical comprehension and calculation, little is known about the visual processing of numerical symbols. In the current study, we recorded directly from the cerebral cortex using intracranial grids of electrodes over the surface of the brain in four human subjects and discovered a small locus within the inferior temporal cortex in each subject with a selective response to number forms but not faces, words, or places. In this presentation, I will discuss the relative location of the visual number form area compared to the well-known location of the visual word form and face form areas and discuss the implication of our findings in interpreting localization of functions in the human brain.