Yasemin Saplakoglu

Right. So this is actually kind of cool. We have what are called number neurons in the brain. So there are neurons that are tuned to specific numbers. There are neurons that favor, for example, the number five. And there are other neurons that favor the number seven. And so on. So that means that for the neurons that favor the number five, they'll fire more.

Right. So this is actually kind of cool. We have what are called number neurons in the brain. So there are neurons that are tuned to specific numbers. There are neurons that favor, for example, the number five. And there are other neurons that favor the number seven. And so on. So that means that for the neurons that favor the number five, they'll fire more.

Like if it sees five items on a table, it'll fire more than if it sees four or six. It'll still fire for four and six, but less and then even less for three and seven.

Like if it sees five items on a table, it'll fire more than if it sees four or six. It'll still fire for four and six, but less and then even less for three and seven.

Like if it sees five items on a table, it'll fire more than if it sees four or six. It'll still fire for four and six, but less and then even less for three and seven.

Yeah, so these neurons are specifically for that number. They really like that number.

Yeah, so these neurons are specifically for that number. They really like that number.

Yeah, so these neurons are specifically for that number. They really like that number.

Yeah, it's kind of neat that we have all of these. And there's a lot of questions surrounding it still. We don't know if there are neurons that fire for 1,505. That seems like there would be a lot of neurons in the brain then for the various numbers. I'm sure there's some other kind of mechanism there.

Yeah, it's kind of neat that we have all of these. And there's a lot of questions surrounding it still. We don't know if there are neurons that fire for 1,505. That seems like there would be a lot of neurons in the brain then for the various numbers. I'm sure there's some other kind of mechanism there.

Yeah, it's kind of neat that we have all of these. And there's a lot of questions surrounding it still. We don't know if there are neurons that fire for 1,505. That seems like there would be a lot of neurons in the brain then for the various numbers. I'm sure there's some other kind of mechanism there.

And yeah, there was this research recently that found that the brain actually analyzes small numbers different than it does larger numbers. So there's a weird boundary around the number four. There seems to be some sort of double mechanism that's happening. So the brain processes numbers that are smaller than four in a more precise way than it does for numbers larger than four.

And yeah, there was this research recently that found that the brain actually analyzes small numbers different than it does larger numbers. So there's a weird boundary around the number four. There seems to be some sort of double mechanism that's happening. So the brain processes numbers that are smaller than four in a more precise way than it does for numbers larger than four.

And yeah, there was this research recently that found that the brain actually analyzes small numbers different than it does larger numbers. So there's a weird boundary around the number four. There seems to be some sort of double mechanism that's happening. So the brain processes numbers that are smaller than four in a more precise way than it does for numbers larger than four.

Yeah, we did an episode about this like way back at the beginning of last year and like how if you get above four, you're not counting, you're actually comparing. And when you're below four, that's when you're literally like your brain is counting. Yeah. So you're not counting anymore past four.

Yeah, we did an episode about this like way back at the beginning of last year and like how if you get above four, you're not counting, you're actually comparing. And when you're below four, that's when you're literally like your brain is counting. Yeah. So you're not counting anymore past four.

Yeah, we did an episode about this like way back at the beginning of last year and like how if you get above four, you're not counting, you're actually comparing. And when you're below four, that's when you're literally like your brain is counting. Yeah. So you're not counting anymore past four.

So interesting, right? It's like... I think about this all the time where it's like, why is it four? Like, why not five? But it's four. And when I reported that piece, a couple of experts were talking to me about how it's also weirdly related to working memory or awareness. So people can only really hold a certain number of objects in their awareness, and that's four.

So interesting, right? It's like... I think about this all the time where it's like, why is it four? Like, why not five? But it's four. And when I reported that piece, a couple of experts were talking to me about how it's also weirdly related to working memory or awareness. So people can only really hold a certain number of objects in their awareness, and that's four.

So interesting, right? It's like... I think about this all the time where it's like, why is it four? Like, why not five? But it's four. And when I reported that piece, a couple of experts were talking to me about how it's also weirdly related to working memory or awareness. So people can only really hold a certain number of objects in their awareness, and that's four.