Promising Persisting Phylogenetic Privileges of Dyscalculia

This theoretical paper challenges conventional notions of cognitive deficits of dyscalculia and invites a broader discussion on the evolutionary and the positive societal implications of neurodiversity. While dyscalculia is generally perceived as a cognitive deficit with societal costs (and of course, individual costs), its existence may serve an important function in maintaining cognitive diversity and even human identity! Within the field of mathematics education, dyscalculia is often viewed as a burden on society due to its impact on academic performance, career opportunities, and overall cognitive development. However, an intriguing question arises: could the absence of dyscalculia impose an even greater cost on humanity? This theoretical inquiry seeks to explore why genetic predispositions to dyscalculia persist despite its apparent disadvantages in the context of Darwinian evolutionary theory, particularly the principle of "survival of the fittest."