Subcortical Structures: The Seeds of Mathematical Abilities

Humans exhibit sophisticated mathematical skills, which researchers attribute to our exceptionally large cortex. While most literature has long focused on the involvement of cortical structures in mathematical processes, the potential role of subcortical structures has been largely overlooked. Herein, to bridge this gap, we: 1) Review current evidence potentially indicating the contributions of subcortical structures to mathematical abilities; 2) Propose a potential explanation of how subcortical structures support mathematical abilities; 3) Argue that mathematical skills rely on a dynamic integrative network, involving both cortical and subcortical computations. Finally, given the results of our review, we propose three main future directions for research.