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Who Is Better at Math? With Elena Saillas, PhD
01/22/2025
Who Is Better at Math? With Elena Saillas, PhD
Ready to challenge your assumptions about gender and math? Join Dr. Elena Saillas, a leading expert in math cognition from the University of Zaragoza, as we explore the persistent myth that boys are better at math than girls. This engaging episode dismantles stereotypes by uncovering the truth about the biological basis of mathematical abilities between genders during early development. Dr. Saillas also sheds light on how social conditioning, cultural expectations, and psychological factors contribute to the observed gender gap in advanced math performance. Discover the intricate math cognition system involving multiple brain regions and processes, and learn how external influences, rather than innate abilities, shape mathematical achievement. We also dive into the complexities of dyscalculia, math learning difficulties, and their connections to conditions like dyslexia and ADHD. Dr. Saillas highlights how understanding these interactions can pave the way for fostering equal opportunities in STEM fields. Ready to challenge your assumptions about gender and math? Tune in to this thought-provoking episode that bridges neuroscience, psychology, and social dynamics to uncover the truth behind one of education's most enduring myths. About the Podcast Guest: Elena Salillas, PhD, a cognitive psychologist and researcher, brings a wealth of expertise from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, where she is part of the Department of Psychology and Sociology at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in Teruel. With a career spanning diverse and interdisciplinary research, her work focuses on language processing, mathematical cognition, developmental disorders (such as dyscalculia), and bilingual mathematics. Dr. Salillas’s research is distinguished by her innovative application of cutting-edge methodologies, including behavioral studies, electrophysiology, experimental neuropsychology, lesion analysis, TMS, and MEG. Her long-standing focus includes the study of spatial-numerical representation and bilingual math cognition. In addition to her cognitive research, Dr. Salillas has ventured into the intersection of neuroscience and healthcare. She has spearheaded pre-surgical mapping projects for patients with intractable epilepsy and brain tumors, collaborating with leading institutions like Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando, USA, and the Hospital Cruces in Bilbao, Spain. Her work in this domain has utilized advanced techniques such as ECoG, MEG, fMRI, and DCE to map language and math functions in the brain. Dr. Salillas furthered her research as a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Padova's Department of Neuroscience. Her projects aimed to uncover patterns in the brain’s reorganization of numerical functions in patients with brain tumors, contributing to improved rehabilitation strategies. She also developed advanced mathematical mapping tools for epilepsy patients and explored the neural systems underlying numerical and non-numerical dimensions of cognition. Dr. Salillas’s groundbreaking work sheds light on the intricacies of the human brain, bridging the gap between cognition, education, and healthcare. Her insights are sure to spark thought-provoking discussions and inspire listeners to see math and the brain in a new light. Email: Web Address: About the Podcast Host: The Brain Myths Debunked podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches () and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neuroscience, neurotech, and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed. Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K: Identification and pursuit of career goals Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates Listen to our Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! podcast to learn about careers in neuroscience and neurotechnologies
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