Math Practice

Mental math is a group of skills that allow people to do math “in their head” without using pencil and paper.

While mathematical skills are supposed to be a task of the left brain, mental math stimulates the right brain which is responsible for imagination, visualisation and creativity. Doing math mentally requires one to think of creative solutions and visualise numbers; which involves using the right brain.

A recent study suggests that mental math stimulates a region of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which has already been linked to depression and anxiety. It also suggests that the more active a person’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is, the more likely he or she is to adapt their thoughts about emotionally difficult situations.