Fig. 3.

Variation in brain activation across mathematical problems. (A) Cortical sites where responses were common (red) or different (yellow) between analysis, algebra, topology, and geometry. The commonalities of the four mathematical domains were assessed by the intersection of activation maps for the contrasts analysis > nonmath, algebra > nonmath, topology > nonmath, and geometry > nonmath (each P < 0.001). Differences in cortical responses across mathematical domains were evaluated by an F-test at the whole-brain level (voxel P < 0.001, cluster P < 0.05 corrected). Bar plots show the activation for each mathematical domain at the principal peaks of three main regions identified in the latter F-contrast (R posterior parietal, L and R infero-temporal). (B) Cortical sites that showed a positive correlation between activation during math reflection and subjective imageability ratings within the meaningful statements in mathematicians.