Subitizing: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Have

Subitizing is a mathematical superpower you didn't know you have, but it shapes the culture around you and across the globe. Here's how scientists study it, and how you can expand your number cognition. Further Reading: Chen, J., Paul, J. M., & Reeve, R. (2022). Manipulation of attention affects subitizing performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 139, 104753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2... Gross, H. J. (2012). The magical number four: A biological, historical and mythological enigma. Communicative & integrative biology, 5(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.4161/cib.18149 Snyder, A., Bahramali, H., Hawker, T., & Mitchell, D. J. (2006). Savant-like numerosity skills revealed in normal people by magnetic pulses. Perception, 35(6), 837-845. https://doi.org/10.1068/p5539 Garcia-Sanz, S., Ghotme, K. A., Hedmont, D., Arévalo-Jaimes, M. Y., Kadosh, R. C., Serra-Grabulosa, J. M., & Redolar-Ripoll, D. (2022). Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation for studying the neural basis of numerical cognition: A systematic review. Journal of neuroscience methods, 369, 109485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.20... Gross, H. J. (2011). Give me 5... The invention of number five in ancient civilizations: A consequence of our limited inborn numerical competence. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 4(1), 62-63. https://doi.org/10.4161%2Fcib.4.1.13762 Pica, P., Lemer, C., Izard, V., & Dehaene, S. (2004). Exact and approximate arithmetic in an Amazonian indigene group. Science, 306(5695), 499-503. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1102085 Frank, M. C., Everett, D. L., Fedorenko, E., & Gibson, E. (2008). Number as a cognitive technology: Evidence from Pirahã language and cognition. Cognition, 108(3), 819-824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2... Titeca, D., Roeyers, H., Josephy, H., Ceulemans, A., & Desoete, A. (2014). Preschool predictors of mathematics in first grade children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(11), 2714-2727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.0...