A Stanford University research experiment has shown that math anxiety actually activates the same parts of the brain linked to fear, causing stress and anxiety.
According to 'The Huffington Post,'"The researchers found that for the kids with math anxiety, the amygdala (which is linked with fear) and a part of the hippocampus (which plays a part in forming memories) had increased activity. Meanwhile, brain regions associated with working memory and number reasoning had decreased activity."
Not only does math anxiety lead to fear, but it distracts the students and stops them from actually solving the problems.
"This takes up some of their processing and working memory. It's very much as though individuals with math anxiety use up the brainpower they need for the problem" on stressing out, said Daniel Ansari, principal investigator for the Numerical Cognition Laboratory at the University of Western Ontario.
The study used students who all had similar IQ levels, working memory, math and reading abilities, and levels of general anxiety. The researchers had them fill out a questionnaire to analyze their level of math anxiety.
