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# The Real (Weird) Way We See Numbers
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/its-okay-be-smart/episode/the-real-weird-way-we-see-numbers-vrvqbv/
- Published: 2024-07-08T14:00:39.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-20T09:55:55.000Z
- Description: Our animal brains deal with quantities in very specific, and fascinating, ways.
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Be Smart, Season 12, Episode 8, #ZZZ_Episode_c3b0ee7f-b437-4092-9cba-e45ec0dd3f00, #episode, #ZZZ_Show_dc38a6e9-266e-43c1-b647-45e7445fad27, #v1.16

Would it surprise you to learn that fish and birds count in pretty much the same way that we do? And that infants can do math? Our animal brains deal with quantities in very specific ways, from quick counts of a few dots to how we perceive larger numbers. This "number sense" impacts our psychology, history, and behavior in the most fascinating ways.