Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai (Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Reading) leads a large grant application for a proposed 2-year study, titled 'Impact of Story Picture Books on Primary School Students’ Cognitive Load and Anxiety in Mathematics Learning: A Brain Activity Study'.
In collaboration with Professor Gaia Scerif (Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford) and Professor Michelle Ellefson (Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Cambridge), Dr. Trakulphadetkrai proposes to harness the power of electroencephalography (EEG) - a child-friendly brain activity capturing technique - to record, in real time, brain activity of 9-10 years old children when they are learning an unfamiliar mathematical concept by reading mathematical picture books versus traditional maths textbooks. This study is important given impact evaluations of (mathematics) teaching methods often rely on students' test scores, which provide limited insight into students’ cognitive processes.
Electroencephalography (EEG) equipment
Source: https://pressrelease.brainproducts.com/r-net-child/
Source: https://pressrelease.brainproducts.com/r-net-child/
This application is in respose to the APEX (Academies Partnership in supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) funding call which is jointly funded by the Royal Society, the British Academy, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The funding scheme offers "established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area and proven ability to lead collaborative work, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society".
Dr. Trakukphadetkrai's proposed study has already benefited from expertises of its Steering Committee which is made up of the world's leading scholars in neuroscience and mathematics education. (More details of the Steering Committee's members can be found below.)
Given the EEG facilities at the University of Oxford would be used if the application was successful, Dr. Trakulphadetkrai has already secured official support from Oxfordshire County Council who would support the recruitment of students from across the 260+ primary schools in its region.
The outcome will be announced in May 2025.
“Dr. Trakulphadetkrai is a well-established scholar whose work (both his research and his research impact-generating activities) has been recognised in the field of mathematics education nationally and internationally since he joined the University some 11 years ago. The proposed study by Dr. Trakulphadetkrai […] would allow academics from both the social sciences discipline (education) and the life sciences discipline (neuroscience) to learn from each other and collaborate on a project that could potentially create some novel scientific discoveries concerning how different mathematics teaching approaches may affect children’s brain activities differently.”
Dr. Sarah Marston
Head of the Institute of Education
University of Reading
“Prof. Scerif has made nationally and internationally recognised contributions to the field of cognitive neuroscience. Her focus on the neural bases of cognitive control in neurotypical and neurodivergent learners is highly suited to the proposed topic of investigation. It complements Dr. Trakulphadetkrai’s renowned expertise in mathematics education, and Professor Michelle Ellefson (Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Cambridge)’s expertise in developmental psychology.”
Professor Matthew Rushworth
Head of the Department of Experimental Psychology
University of Oxford
“This project exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, combining latest insights from the fields of mathematics education (social sciences) and cognitive science/neuroscience (life sciences). While Dr. Trakulphadetkrai is an internationally recognised expert in mathematics education research, the two co-applicants - Professor Ellefson and Professor Gaia Scerif (Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford) - will provide complementary expertise in cognitive science and neuroscience. Together, their combined knowledge of cognition, executive functions, brain development, and their implications for mathematics learning processes will be instrumental in advancing the project’s goals.”
Professor Hilary Cremin
Head of the Faculty of Education
University of Cambridge
Dr. Sarah Marston
Head of the Institute of Education
University of Reading
“Prof. Scerif has made nationally and internationally recognised contributions to the field of cognitive neuroscience. Her focus on the neural bases of cognitive control in neurotypical and neurodivergent learners is highly suited to the proposed topic of investigation. It complements Dr. Trakulphadetkrai’s renowned expertise in mathematics education, and Professor Michelle Ellefson (Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Cambridge)’s expertise in developmental psychology.”
Professor Matthew Rushworth
Head of the Department of Experimental Psychology
University of Oxford
“This project exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, combining latest insights from the fields of mathematics education (social sciences) and cognitive science/neuroscience (life sciences). While Dr. Trakulphadetkrai is an internationally recognised expert in mathematics education research, the two co-applicants - Professor Ellefson and Professor Gaia Scerif (Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford) - will provide complementary expertise in cognitive science and neuroscience. Together, their combined knowledge of cognition, executive functions, brain development, and their implications for mathematics learning processes will be instrumental in advancing the project’s goals.”
Professor Hilary Cremin
Head of the Faculty of Education
University of Cambridge
Team Members
 Professor Gaia Scerif (Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford) Co-Applicant |  Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai (Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Reading) Lead Applicant |  Professor Michelle Ellefson (Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Cambridge) Co-Applicant |
Steering Committee
(in no particular order)
 Professor Jon R. Star (Professor of Education, Harvard University) mathematics education, cognitive development |  Professor Bruce McCandliss (Director of the Educational Neuroscience Initiative, Stanford University) neuroscience |  Professor Jo Boaler (Professor of Mathematics Education, Stanford University) mathematics education, brain and learning sciences |
 Professor Kimberly Noble (Professor of Neuroscience and Education, Columbia University) neuroscience |  Professor Casey Lew-Williams (Professor of Psychology, Princeton University) neuroscience |  Professor Adam K. Anderson (Professor of Psychology, Cornell University) neuroscience |
 Professor Dor Abrahamson (Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of California, Berkeley) mathematical cognition |  Professor Sara Cordes (Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Boston College) neuroscience, early mathematics education |  Professor Paul B. Armstrong (Professor Emeritus of English, Brown University) storytelling, neuroscience |
 Professor Gabriel Stylianides (Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Oxford) mathematics education |  Dr. Ros McLellan (Associate Professor of Pedagogical Innovation, University of Cambridge) educational psychology, mathematics anxiety |
