Suppressive and inhibitory interactions in human vision and their functional role in the perception of number sets

Number sense – the ability to discriminate between ‘fewer’ and ‘more’ objects beyond the range of counting is present from infancy (six months), and is the cornerstone of arithmetical and mathematical skills. Findings from this research revealed a relationship between number sense and neural mechanisms involved with sensory filtering (the removal of un-essential visual information). The conceptual synthesis between sensory filtering and number sense offers new insight toward developmental dyscalculia (mathematical learning disorder), where poor number sense – a symptom of developmental dyscalculia, is likely to be influenced by abnormal sensory filtering processes.