Scientists at the Centre for Neuroscience in Education have been awarded more than £1 million by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to investigate developmental dyscalculia using brain imaging techniques.

Developmental dyscalculia is a selective and specific difficulty in dealing with mathematical information. The condition is as prevalent as developmental dyslexia, both of which affect around 7% of school children. At present, understanding of dyscalculia is limited and it is hoped with this funding more information will be found about the specific processing differences in the brain involved in the condition.

Led by Dr Dénes Szucs, a team including Professor Usha Goswami and Dr Tim Rowland in the Faculty of Education and Dr Rhodri Cusack at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit will investigate the roles of cognitive interference and working memory in the development of this learning difficulty. This is a significant amount of funding to Dr Dénes Szucs who is a young lecturer at the University.

Centre Director Professor Goswami said “I am delighted at the news of this award, which complements a similar award made by the MRC to the Centre to investigate developmental dyslexia. Brain imaging offers unique data for education regarding developmental mechanisms and it is very exciting that the Medical Research Council recognise the importance of supporting the development of this new field of educational neuroscience”

The MRC is a publicly-funded organisation dedicated to improving human health.

The MRC supports research across an entire spectrum of medical sciences, in universities and hospitals, in their own units as well as other university institutions throughout the UK and Africa.

 

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