True counting and arithmetic abilities are unique to humans and are inextricably linked to symbolic competence. However, our unprecedented numerical skills are deeply rooted in our neuronal heritage as primates and vertebrates. In this article, I argue that numerical competence in humans is the result of three neural constraints. First, I propose that the neuronal mechanisms of quantity estimation are part of our evolutionary heritage and can be witnessed across primate and vertebrate phylogeny. Second, I suggest that a basic understanding of number, what numerical quantity means, is innately wired into the brain and gives rise to an intuitive number sense, or number instinct. Third and finally, I argue that symbolic counting and arithmetic in humans is rooted in an evolutionarily and ontogenetically primeval neural system for non-symbolic number representations. These three neural constraints jointly determine the basic processing of number concepts in the human mind.

中文翻译：

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对人数概念的神经约束。

真正的计数和算术能力是人类独有的，并且与符号能力密不可分。但是，我们空前的数字技能已深深植根于我们作为灵长类动物和脊椎动物的神经元遗产。在本文中，我认为人类的数字能力是三个神经约束的结果。首先，我提出数量估计的神经元机制是我们进化遗产的一部分，并且可以在灵长类动物和脊椎动物系统发育中得到见证。其次，我建议将数字的基本理解（即数字的数量）固有地连接到大脑中，并引起直观的数字感觉或数字本能。第三也是最后 我认为，人类的符号计数和算术植根于非符号数字表示形式的进化论和本体论原始神经系统。这三个神经约束共同决定了人脑中数字概念的基本处理。