Brain Scan Shows That Thinking About Math Is As Painful As A Hot Stove Burn, If You're Anxious
But it's just the anticipation--actually doing the math doesn't hurt. Are you the type of person who has a calculator app at the ready, helping figure out restaurant tips and sale discounts? Does the above image make you nervous? Are you actually scared of math? It's OK! It's your brain playing tricks on you. In the math-anxious brain, the mere thought of solving for X prompts the same neurological response as anticipation of physical pain, according to a new study. Math really does hurt--or at least anticipation of math does. Actually doing the work does not hurt nearly as badly. Sian Beilock, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and an expert on math anxiety, has a new paper in the journal PLoS One explaining this phenomenon. "For someone who has math anxiety, the anticipation of doing math prompts a similar brain reaction as when they experience pain--say, burning one's hand...