Why Some Brains Fear Math

Math anxiety, a psychological phenomenon affecting both children and adults, can turn numbers into a source of stress rather than understanding.

Psychologist Eiró Xenidou-Dervou explains that early negative experiences—such as being told one is “bad at math” or scoring lower than peers—can create a feedback loop of fear and avoidance that directly impacts working memory, the brain’s problem-solving hub.

A study at Loughborough University found that children aged 9 to 10 with math anxiety performed significantly worse on simple calculations due to mental overload.

Neuroscientist Brian Butterworth from University College London adds that humans possess an innate number sense, yet for some, this mechanism is impaired—a condition known as dyscalculia, which affects around 5% of people.

Butterworth’s research team has even developed educational games to strengthen numerical skills, but experts agree that early intervention and emotional support are crucial to breaking the cycle of math-related fear.