When the Parietal Lobes Don’t Work as Usual

The parietal lobe, situated at the top of the brain, is a multifaceted region responsible for processing sensory information, spatial awareness, attention, and motor control. Let us take a look at more disorders arising from dysfunction of the parietal lobe.

Balint’s Syndrome

Balint’s syndrome is like having blinders on your mind, not your eyes. It’s a condition where your brain has trouble putting together the whole picture of what you’re seeing. Imagine looking at a forest but only being able to see one tree at a time. Or trying to reach for a cup but missing it completely because you can’t guide your hand correctly.

This happens because of damage to a specific part of your brain called the parietal lobe. This area is important for understanding where things are in space and how to move your body in relation to them. When it’s injured, it can cause a mix of problems with vision and movement.

People with Balint’s syndrome often have trouble focusing their eyes on things, making it hard to follow objects as they move. They might also struggle to see more than one thing at a time, like the words on a page or the people in a room. And even if they can see something, they might have trouble reaching for it or picking it up.

It’s important to remember that people with Balint’s syndrome can see clearly, but their brain is having trouble processing the information. This can make everyday life very challenging, but with the right support and therapy, people can learn to adapt and manage the condition.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is like having a foggy brain when it comes to numbers. It’s a learning difficulty that makes it hard to understand and use numbers. It’s not because someone is lazy or stupid; it’s how their brain works.

Imagine trying to learn a foreign language where the grammar rules just don’t click. That’s kind of what it’s like for someone with dyscalculia and numbers. Simple things like adding, subtracting, or even telling time can be a real struggle. It’s like having a puzzle with missing pieces when it comes to math.

This difficulty comes from differences in the brain. Researchers think that certain areas involved in number processing might not work as efficiently in people with dyscalculia. It’s important to remember that everyone’s brain is different, and having dyscalculia doesn’t mean someone isn’t smart. With the right support and strategies, people with dyscalculia can learn to manage their challenges and succeed.

Read more about this HERE

Developmental Dyscalculiaand the Brain*

Converging evidence is growing that DD is associated with different altera
tions in brain function and brain structure. Recent work in the field of DD has
examined the neural aspects of this learning disorder by means of contemporary
brain imaging techniques such as electrophysiology and magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI). Using these methods (see below), we are able to generate high
resolution anatomical images of our brains, examine fiber tracts, gain metabolic
insights, observe brain activation, or measure temporal processes while partici
pants are performing a numerical task.

Read the full article HERE

Effectiveness of Interventions for School Children With Developmental Dyscalculia

Abstract

This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for children with developmental dyscalculia (DD). The PsycINFO, ERIC, PubMed, Scopus, Science direct, Google scholar, and Google databases and search engines were searched. Studies employed experimental and quasiexperimental designs were reviewed. Thirty three studies with 1792 children aged 6-12 years were chosen. A large pooled effect size was found (Hedge’s g = .93; 95% CI [.38, 3.09]). There was no statistically significant moderator variable predicting the pooled effect size. Finally, publication bias was found, as shown by Egger’s regression test analysis. Overall, interventions have generally large effect in improving the numerical skills of children with DD.

Read the study HERE

Direct effects of dyscalculia on executive functions

Dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in mathematics, is linked to deficits in executive functions, yet integrative studies in Arabic-speaking contexts remain scarce. This study examined working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility collectively in children with dyscalculia. Using 64 children (32 per group), advanced techniques including Ridge regression, PCA, and ROC analysis assessed these functions. Both groups demonstrated average intelligence (Raven’s Progressive Matrices), with the dyscalculia group showing profound mathematical deficits across nine arithmetic domains. 

Read more HERE

Evidence for the Functional Numeracy Assessment Dyscalculia Battery (FUNA-DB Screener): An Online Assessment of Mathematical Learning Difficulties

Background: Although several paper-and-pencil and digital online measures have been developed to assess basic numeracy skills and identify mathematical learning difficulties in children, psychometric evidence of these measures are seldom thoroughly reported and published. Establishing the validity and reliability of educational measures is a fundamental part of evidence-based practice. Objective: This study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability, longitudinal measurement invariance, and convergent validity of a new digital online dyscalculia screener, the Functional Numeracy Assessment Dyscalculia Battery (FUNA-DB), targeted to 9–16-year-old children. Method: The participants were 358 children (165 boys and 193 girls) in grades 3, 5 and 7, who participated in the study at two time points. Children’s numeracy skills were measured using two time-limited tests: the FUNA-DB online screener and a standardized paper-and-pencil basic arithmetic test, RMAT. Results: Our results showed that the FUNA-DB has a strong test-retest reliability, displays measurement invariance over time, and is meaningfully related to RMAT. Conclusion: The psychometric evidence supports using the FUNA-DB to measure school-aged children’s number processing and arithmetical fluency across time.

Read all about it HERE