A recent study has confirmed the existence of a discrete number sense in rats, offering new insights into the specific neural circuits involved in number processing in animals.

A recent study has confirmed the existence of a discrete number sense in rats, offering new insights into the specific neural circuits involved in number processing in animals. The research, conducted by a joint research team from the City University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was published in Science Advances. According to the researchers, the study offers a significant animal model for analysing the neural basis of numerical ability and disability in humans. They deployed a numerical learning task, brain manipulation techniques and AI modelling to tackle an ongoing debate about whether rats can count. The results shed light on the mechanisms that underlie numerical ability, a cognitive skill essential to mathematical proficiency, which is a defining characteristic of human intelligence. The researchers have titled the article "Disparate processing of numerosity and associated continuous magnitudes in rats." Professor Yung Wing-ho, Chair Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at CityUHK, said the research team aimed to minimise the impact of constant magnitudes in numerical tests and performed a detailed quantitative analysis to find the respective contributions of numbers and magnitudes. ALSO READ | NASA snaps 2,000-foot-wide asteroid, visible through amateur telescopes, as it zips past Earth The animal-focused algorithm developed by the team generates stimuli that emphasise numbers while reducing the impact of other distractions. "This will help us better understand how animals perceive and quantify numbers," Professor Yung said. During the research, they found that the rats without previous knowledge of numbers developed a sense for them when trained with sounds representing two or three numbers. When given a choice of food rewards, rats consistently focused on the number of sounds rather than continuous magnitudes. Furthermore, the findings help unveil the relationship between magnitude and numerosity processing. The researchers blocked a specific part of the rats' brain called the posterior parietal cortex. It impacted their ability to understand numbers but not their sense of magnitude. "This suggests that the brain has a specific area for dealing with numbers," Professor Yung continued. The study solved a long-standing mystery about how brains handle numbers and explained how genes are related to mathematical ability. The practical applications of neural network modelling extend to AI. (With inputs from agencies)

Do animals have a sense of numbers? Study involving rats suggests animals may be able to count

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India reported 80,834 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest after 71 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 4.25 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

With the fresh cases, the country's tally of cases has climbed to 2,94,39,989.&nbsp;The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,70,384 with 3,303 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The active cases further declined to 10,26,159 comprising 3.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.26 per cent.

A net decline of 54,531 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Also 19,20,477 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 37,62,32,162 while the daily positivity rate has further dropped to 4.25 per cent.

It has been less than 10 per cent for 20 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate fell below 5 per cent and was recorded 4.74 per cent.

Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 31st consecutive day.&nbsp;The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,80,43,446, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.26 per cent, the data stated.

Cumulatively, 25,31,95,048 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

The 3,303 fresh fatalities include 1,966 from Maharashtra, 374 from Tamil Nadu, 171 from Kerala and 144 from Karnataka.

A total of 3,70,384 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,08,333 from Maharashtra, 32,788 from Karnataka, 29,280 from Tamil Nadu, 24,800 from Delhi, 21,735 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,812 from West Bengal, 15,503 from Punjab and 13,311 from Chhattisgarh.

The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.&nbsp;"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.&nbsp;

India reported 80,834 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest after 71 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 4.25 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

India reported 80,834 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest after 71 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 4.25 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. With the fresh cases, the country's tally of cases has climbed to 2,94,39,989. The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,70,384 with 3,303 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases further declined to 10,26,159 comprising 3.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.26 per cent. A net decline of 54,531 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Also 19,20,477 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 37,62,32,162 while the daily positivity rate has further dropped to 4.25 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for 20 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate fell below 5 per cent and was recorded 4.74 per cent. Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 31st consecutive day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,80,43,446, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.26 per cent, the data stated. Cumulatively, 25,31,95,048 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. The 3,303 fresh fatalities include 1,966 from Maharashtra, 374 from Tamil Nadu, 171 from Kerala and 144 from Karnataka. A total of 3,70,384 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,08,333 from Maharashtra, 32,788 from Karnataka, 29,280 from Tamil Nadu, 24,800 from Delhi, 21,735 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,812 from West Bengal, 15,503 from Punjab and 13,311 from Chhattisgarh. The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

Daily COVID-19 count in India remains below 1,00,000 mark

Oil prices fell on Monday as last week&#39;s rise in the US rig count pointed to a further increase in American production that could undermine OPEC-led efforts to tighten markets.&nbsp;A statement by Kuwait&#39;s oil minister that OPEC and other oil producers will study before June next year the possibility of exiting their global oil supply-cut agreement also weighed on prices, traders said.&nbsp;

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $57.14 a barrel at 0418 GMT, down 22 cents, or 0.4 per cent, from their last settlement.&nbsp;Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were down 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $63.15 a barrel.

&quot;The largest concern for investors currently remains the rise in the US rig count, which could potentially jeopardise the OPEC and Russian agreement when they meet for a review in June 2018&quot;, said Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers.&nbsp;

The number of rigs drilling for new oil output in the United States rose by two in the week to December 8, to 751, the highest level since September, General Electric Co&#39;s Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday.&nbsp;A higher rig count points to a further rise in US crude production, which is already up by more than 15 percent since mid-2016 to 9.71 million barrels per day (bpd).&nbsp;

That&#39;s the highest level since the early 1970s, and close to levels from top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Rising US output threatens to undermine efforts led by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-slip-as-us-drilling-undermines-opec-led-production-cut-16196">Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries</a> (OPEC) and a group of non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to support prices by withholding supplies.&nbsp;

OPEC and its allies started withholding supplies last January and currently plan to continue doing so throughout 2018.&nbsp;Kuwait&#39;s oil minister Essam al-Marzouq said on Sunday, however, OPEC and other oil producers will study before June possibly ending the global oil supply cuts earlier.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-dive-after-britain-votes-to-leave-eu-1097">Oil prices dive after Britain votes to leave EU</a>

United State's rig count rose to 751 with 2 more adding in last week alone. The number points to rise in crude production in U.S. leading to price drops of crude oil

Oil prices fell on Monday as last week's rise in the US rig count pointed to a further increase in American production that could undermine OPEC-led efforts to tighten markets. A statement by Kuwait's oil minister that OPEC and other oil producers will study before June next year the possibility of exiting their global oil supply-cut agreement also weighed on prices, traders said. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $57.14 a barrel at 0418 GMT, down 22 cents, or 0.4 per cent, from their last settlement. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were down 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $63.15 a barrel. "The largest concern for investors currently remains the rise in the US rig count, which could potentially jeopardise the OPEC and Russian agreement when they meet for a review in June 2018", said Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers. The number of rigs drilling for new oil output in the United States rose by two in the week to December 8, to 751, the highest level since September, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. A higher rig count points to a further rise in US crude production, which is already up by more than 15 percent since mid-2016 to 9.71 million barrels per day (bpd). That's the highest level since the early 1970s, and close to levels from top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia. Rising US output threatens to undermine efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and a group of non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to support prices by withholding supplies. OPEC and its allies started withholding supplies last January and currently plan to continue doing so throughout 2018. Kuwait's oil minister Essam al-Marzouq said on Sunday, however, OPEC and other oil producers will study before June possibly ending the global oil supply cuts earlier. Also Read: Oil prices dive after Britain votes to leave EU

Oil prices drop on increased US drilling activity

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