How Culture Shapes the Way We Do Math

Brain scans reveal striking differences in how Chinese and English speakers process numbers.

Feb 19, 2025

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A minimalist chalkboard-style illustration representing how cultural background influences arithmetic processing in the brain, now fully blended with the chalkboard background. The image features an abstract brain outline, with two distinct sides representing different cultural approaches to math: one side with symbols of language-based arithmetic (e.g., letters, phonetic cues) and the other with spatial-based methods (e.g., an abacus, visual patterns). These two cognitive pathways flow into separate but connected brain regions, visually contrasting different ways cultures process numbers. Soft pops of color (e.g., blue, yellow, green) subtly highlight key regions while ensuring the entire design seamlessly integrates into the textured chalkboard background for a natural, hand-drawn effect. No text included. Maintain a 2:1 aspect ratio.

Introduction:

We tend to think of math as a universal language—after all, 2 + 2 equals 4 no matter where you are in the world. But what if our cultural background actually shapes the way we process numbers? This fascinating study used fMRI to compare how native Chinese and English speakers approach arithmetic and found profound differences in brain activation patterns. These findings highlight the deep influence of language, education, and culture on cognitive processes—even in something as seemingly objective as math.

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