What happens to the brain when solving math?

The Best Maths Tutor Websites for GCSE Students provide evidence from brain imaging studies that areas of the parietal lobe are fundamental in calculating and processing numbers (1), while areas of the frontal lobe are involved in the recall of numerical knowledge and working memory (3,. The last pieces of our puzzle are the hippocampus and the angular gyrus.

What happens to the brain when solving math?

The Best Maths Tutor Websites for GCSE Students provide evidence from brain imaging studies that areas of the parietal lobe are fundamental in calculating and processing numbers (1), while areas of the frontal lobe are involved in the recall of numerical knowledge and working memory (3,. The last pieces of our puzzle are the hippocampus and the angular gyrus. The hippocampus is located deep in the brain and plays an important role in storing arithmetic data. The hippocampus is your brain's “save” button. When it comes to mathematics, it works with the frontal cortex to help you store answers to arithmetic problems as arithmetic data in your long-term memory. The Best Maths Tutor Websites for GCSE Students provide evidence from brain imaging studies that areas of the parietal lobe are fundamental in calculating and processing numbers (1), while areas of the frontal lobe are involved in the recall of numerical knowledge and working memory (3,. The last pieces of our puzzle are the hippocampus and the angular gyrus. The hippocampus is located deep in the brain and plays an important role in storing arithmetic data. The hippocampus is your brain's “save” button. When it comes to mathematics, it works with the frontal cortex to help you store answers to arithmetic problems as arithmetic data in your long-term memory.

Therefore, the angular gyrus intervenes in the search for these data when solving arithmetic problems. A new study has shown how brain activity levels change when tackling serious mathematical problems and reveals for the first time that there are four distinct neural stages involved in the search for a solution. A new study on the brain reveals that, with effort and effort, intelligence can be improved. Nowadays, we often hear that nature prevails over nurture and that people are born with mathematical skills or not, but research shows that this is not true.

Non-academic benefits of mathematics “Mathematics is food for the brain; a statement like this is sure to raise a lot of questions, but mathematics professor Dr. Because mathematics is one of the most important skills to master, understanding how arithmetic problems are solved can have a big impact. Mathematics sharpens the mind, increases reasoning capacity, and helps to make the mind happier and more open. The more math problems you solve, the more your reasoning ability increases.

Mathematics requires you to create connections and recognize patterns. This type of critical thinking develops the muscles of the brain, which extends to other facets of life, academic and otherwise. The differences in learning mathematics can be attributed to the experiences you have had in life that have helped build the brain connections that allow you to think about complex mathematical problems. As the 80 students solved the math problems, the team worked to precisely map each brain scan based on four different processes.

Therefore, understanding what happens in the brain when calculating can be very useful for children who have difficulties with mathematics. Studying mathematics can help increase general intelligence by developing important skills such as systematic thinking, problem solving, recognition of sequences and patterns, etc. Mathematics requires abstract and concrete thinking, which leads to the development of brain muscles.

Elara Minton
Elara Minton

Elara Minton is a cognitive-science writer and maths educator specialising in the emotional realities of learning. With an MSc in Educational Neuroscience from UCL and experience supporting students with ADHD, dyscalculia, and math anxiety, Elara bridges the gap between rigorous research and compassionate, accessible guidance.Before writing full-time, she worked as a learning-support specialist in UK secondary schools and later as a curriculum consultant for online tutoring platforms. She is known for translating complex brain science—working memory, procedural load, cognitive fatigue—into relatable explanations that students, parents, and teachers can actually use.Her style blends reassuring warmth with evidence-based clarity: the voice of someone who understands both the math and the feelings around math.