New Research Challenges the Idea That Geometry Is Uniquely Human

NYU psychologist Moira Dillon argues geometry is not uniquely human, but likely grew out of navigation systems shared across species.

Her review in Trends in Cognitive Sciences cites evidence from rats, chickens, and fish to support a cross-species basis for geometric understanding.

The paper challenges the idea of an innate human-only math module and the language-of-thought explanation for geometry.

In humans, language may help turn these basic spatial abilities into more abstract mathematical reasoning.