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Cognitive tutoring induces widespread neuroplasticity and remediates brain function in children with mathematical learning disabilities

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa Iuculano

    (Stanford University)

  • Miriam Rosenberg-Lee

    (Stanford University)

  • Jennifer Richardson

    (Stanford University)

  • Caitlin Tenison

    (Stanford University)

  • Lynn Fuchs

    (Vanderbilt University)

  • Kaustubh Supekar

    (Stanford University)

  • Vinod Menon

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University
    Stanford Neurosciences Institute)

Abstract

Competency with numbers is essential in today’s society; yet, up to 20% of children exhibit moderate to severe mathematical learning disabilities (MLD). Behavioural intervention can be effective, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying successful intervention are unknown. Here we demonstrate that eight weeks of 1:1 cognitive tutoring not only remediates poor performance in children with MLD, but also induces widespread changes in brain activity. Neuroplasticity manifests as normalization of aberrant functional responses in a distributed network of parietal, prefrontal and ventral temporal–occipital areas that support successful numerical problem solving, and is correlated with performance gains. Remarkably, machine learning algorithms show that brain activity patterns in children with MLD are significantly discriminable from neurotypical peers before, but not after, tutoring, suggesting that behavioural gains are not due to compensatory mechanisms. Our study identifies functional brain mechanisms underlying effective intervention in children with MLD and provides novel metrics for assessing response to intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Iuculano & Miriam Rosenberg-Lee & Jennifer Richardson & Caitlin Tenison & Lynn Fuchs & Kaustubh Supekar & Vinod Menon, 2015. "Cognitive tutoring induces widespread neuroplasticity and remediates brain function in children with mathematical learning disabilities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9453
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9453
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    Cited by:

    1. Larry R. Vandervert, 2021. "A Brain for Numbers: The Biology of the Number Instinct by Andreas Nieder," The Mathematical Intelligencer, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 123-127, March.

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