Young children recognize numbers very early

Rhesus Monkey (Photo: wikimedia)

Researchers at Duke University, USA, have done research to prove that Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and of course humans, too, have very early recognition of numbers. , recognize the difference between plural and singular.

Kerry Jordan and Elisabeth Brannon did the following simple experiments: giving the Macaca muatala monkeys two gesture-like monkeys, and at the same time hearing the calls of two monkeys and another photo of 3 monkeys also opened their mouths, and heard the howls of 3 monkeys.

(Photo: nhsia) The researchers found that Macaca monkeys often look longer on photos that match the number of calls. That is, they recognize that if they listen to 3 voices, they must have 3 monkeys and if they listen to the two voices they will look longer on the picture with only two monkeys.

The principle of experimenting with monkeys (images taken in accordance with the call) is also applied to babies in cradles. And strangely, these babies have looked longer on the photo with two female faces that are suitable for two voices or longer on a photo that has three female faces if they hear three voices.

Scientists have come to the conclusion that it is possible for children before babbling to speak, not only to understand but to recognize very early or large numbers through hearing and vision.