Signs that a child will become a maths whizz later in life can be spotted when a baby is just six months old, researchers say.
Spatial reasoning in infancy is a strong predictor of how children will do at maths when they are four years old and beyond, the study found.
The team tested tested 63 infants - aged from six months to 13 months - for a visual-spatial skill known as mental transformation.
This is the ability to transform and rotate objects in their minds.
Babies were shown shapes in various orientations, and eye-tracking technology analysed how the babies processed what they saw.
Those that best followed the changing orientation were found to be better at maths by the time they reached the age of four.
Stella Lourenco, a psychologist at Emory University in Atlanta, said: "We believe that we've honed in on something specific about early spatial reasoning and math ability.
"We've provided the earliest documented evidence for a relationship between spatial reasoning and math ability.
"We've shown that spatial reasoning beginning early in life, as young as six months of age, predicts both the continuity of this ability and mathematical development."
The research could help spot which children may need extra support in maths lessons - long before they even get to school.
Follow The Forefront on:
> twitter
> Instagram: osagiejoshua
| Share this post with others on social media with options below. |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer!!! Opinions expressed in comments do not represent THE FOREFRONT MEDIA NG's views. All participants are entitled to their opinions. Thank you!!!
Advertise on the Forefront: For advert placement in the blog or advert posts like news updates, reach +2348124620827 [WhatsApp].
Copyright 2023 The Forefront Media Ng. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from The Forefront Media Ng