Learning math can improve brain performance and prevent senility

You must have worked on math problems given by teachers or parents. When studying math, some people may feel bored or lazy. In fact, learning mathematics has many benefits, not only so that you become proficient in arithmetic. One of the important benefits of learning mathematics is that it supports brain function and improves intelligence.

What parts of the brain work when we learn math?

The human brain consists of four "chambers," or what is known in medical parlance as lobes. The four chambers are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Each room has a different location and different functions.

When you learn math, the frontal and parietal lobes will work more actively. The frontal lobe itself is located in the area of ​​your forehead and functions to process new information, think logically, regulate body movements, and language.

The second part of the brain to work hard when you study math is the parietal lobe. Its function is to regulate the sense of touch (touch), detect location and direction, and count.

Is it true that learning mathematics can increase intelligence?

Research conducted by Professor Ryuta Kawashima attempted to compare the brains of study participants playing games with study participants working on fairly easy math problems (eg addition, subtraction, and multiplication). Initially the experts thought that the participants who played the games would have more active brains than those who did math. However, it turns out that the number of parts of the brain that are active when doing math is more than when you are playing games.

When you do easy math problems, the prefrontal area of ​​your brain becomes active. This section serves to learn and think logically. Even when you do an easy multiplication problem (like 4 × 4), it turns out that the part of the brain that functions to speak is also active.

This is because your brain will unconsciously recall reading the times table. This is what makes the part of your brain that functions to read become active too.

Apart from that, doing math problems can also activate both sides of your brain (left and right side). Because of this, Professor Ryuta Kawashima recommends that you do a simple math problem for a while before you are going to do something difficult. This will allow you to process information more efficiently because your brain is activated.

You don't even need to do math problems that are too difficult

You may think that the more difficult the problem to solve, the more active parts of the brain are. In fact, it was not. It is precisely when you are working on a difficult math problem, only the left side of the brain works. The left side of the brain is an area that functions to regulate language (in right-handed people).

Why so? It turns out that when you are working on a difficult problem, for example 54: (0.51-0.9), of course you don't immediately know the answer. You will even read the problem over and over again. This is what makes the part of your left brain, which plays an important role in language function, to work hard.

It's different when you do easy problems, because the left and right sides of your brain will be active in a balanced manner.

Practicing math problems can also prevent senility

Apparently, math can help prevent and overcome dementia, especially in those who are elderly. Yes, reading math problems while talking out loud can actually prevent senility from getting worse.

In old age, there will generally be a decrease in the ability to think. Especially in the prefrontal section which will be activated when you are doing practice math problems. There will be two processes in the brain to process it, namely the ability to read questions and numbers, operate the numbers, and move your hands to write formulas, calculations, and the results of the answers. This simple thing turns out to improve thinking skills and reduce the severity of senile dementia.