Lateralized Underpinnings of Comparison and Arithmetic atlas (LUCA)

---

In accordance with the SENSAAS, ALANs, WMCA, and HAMOTA atlases, this repository introduces the LUCA atlas, which encompasses 60 specifically selected regions underpinning the anatomical and functional bases of numerical cognition in humans.

---

Reference

For usage of the atlas, please cite:

• Labache, L., Hesling, I., & Zago, L. (2025). Independent Lateralization of Language, Attention, and Numerical Cognition Across Task and Rest. BioRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2025.11.23.690045
• Labache, L. (2025). loiclabache/LUCA_brainAtlas: Lateralized Underpinnings of Comparison and Arithmetic atlas (LUCA) (Labache_2025_LUCA_251130). Zenodo.DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17771073

---

Background

The Lateralized Underpinnings of Comparison and Arithmetic (LUCA) atlas defines the large-scale, hemispherically lateralized brain networks that support numerical cognition. Using multimodal fMRI in a large sample of typically left-lateralized individuals for language, LUCA isolates the regions that show robust leftward or rightward activation and asymmetry during two core numerical tasks: mental calculation and numerical interval comparison.

LUCA formalizes numerical cognition into six lateralized functional networks. For calculation, three networks are identified:

• a left-lateralized fronto-intraparietal network supporting symbolic manipulation,

• a bi-hemispheric visuo-motor network integrating visual numeral processing with motor planning,

• and a right-lateralized subcortical network involved in gating and memory processes.

For numerical comparison, three networks emerge:

• a right-lateralized fronto-intraparietal networ for evidence accumulation and decision-making,

• a right-lateralized medio-parietal network for magnitude mapping,

• and a left-lateralized hand-motor network supporting response selection.

Together, these six networks provide a comprehensive and reproducible framework for studying the neural foundations of arithmetic and number comparison in both healthy individuals and clinical or developmental populations.

---

Data release

The Atlas folder contains three files:

• read_me_LUCA.rtf: README file containing information. about the atlas
• LUCA_description.txt: text file containing a full description of each regions.
• LUCA_Calc_MNI_ICBM_152_2mm.nii.gz: NIfTI file containing the 43 calculation regions in the MNI space.
• LUCA_Comp_MNI_ICBM_152_2mm.nii.gz: NIfTI file containing the 37 numerical interval comparison regions in the MNI space.

---

Other papers and atlases that might interest you

• Atlas of Lateralized visuospatial Attentional Networks: ALANs
• SEntence Supramodal Areas AtlaS: SENSAAS
• Word-list Multimodal Cortical Atlas: WMCA
• HAnd MOtor Area atlas: HAMOTA
• Language-and-Memory atlas: L∪M

---

Questions

Please contact me (Loïc Labache) at: loic.labache@rutgers.edu and/or loic.labache@ensc.fr