Technology Inceptions: Powerful Robots Helps in Faster Detection of Bridge Defects | Teacher Insights: Are you susceptible to persuasion? | Science Innovations: Mushrooms to help fight TB | Management lessons: How to Create Cool Brands and Stay Cool | Health Monitor: Honey Helps Increase Testosterone Levels in Males | Parent Interventions: Women Oncologists Skip Scientific Conference to Take Care of Children | Career News: Chinmaya University-CPPR Announce MA in Public Policy and Governance Course | Parent Interventions: Electrical zap to retrieve memory | Science Innovations: Laura Kreidberg: Trying to Spot the First Sign of Life Outside Earth | Parent Interventions: Don't Let Children Drink Too Much Juice, Sugar Water With Little Nutrients | Technology Inceptions: Low-Cost Tissue Freezing Device to Help In Breast Cancer Treatment | Science Innovations: Exomoons May Become Quasi-planets | Science Innovations: Blue Tongue Lizard Babies As Clever as Adults | Parent Interventions: Quality Sleep for Teen Health | Technology Inceptions: MIT Develops Artificial 'Muscles' Based on Fibers |

April 30, 2019 Tuesday 10:52:34 AM IST

Counting With Fingers Help Children Attain Better Mathematical Skills

Counting with fingers can help children perform better in arithmetic, according to research studies.

Studies conducted among forty children in the age group of 8 to 13 years revealed that counting with fingers activated the somatosensory areas of the brain. They were given addition, multiplication and subtraction tasks while they were monitored using fMRI scanner. Greater activation of the somatosensory areas was found for subtraction problems than multiplication. There were 23 females in the study. All the children had an IQ standard score greater than 85 on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.

The study assumes significance as in some schools emphasis is given on rote learning of mathematical tables and operations discouraging finger based counting. However, research studies indicate that counting with fingers had definite advantages in learning arithmetic and developing skills in mathematics.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4360562/