Abstract:

Mathematics ability is one of key advanced cognitive functions in human beings. Previous research provided numerous evidences in the evolutionary studies about mathematics ability, which is adaptively significance of the survival and reproduction of organisms. In recent years, the findings of comparative psychology have revealed that behavioral performance and brain physiological mechanism of primitive mathematics abilities of nonhuman animals are parallel to those of adults and infants in human. Furthermore, studies of molecular genetics also show that mathematics ability is hereditary. These findings provide further understandings on the nature and inherent developing mechanism of this capacity in human beings.

Key words: primitive mathematics ability, non-human animals, infant, neuralphysiological mechanism, evolutionary genetics