> They both use the same mental processes There is not some evidence or argument in the article to actually support this claim. If anything, assuming the more

> They both use the same mental processes There is not some evidence or argument in the article to actually support this claim. If anything, assuming the more plausible hypothesis that programming and mathematical thought are akin to each other, and the fact that research supports that there brain networks related to mathematical reasoning unrelated to other language activities [1], I would think it is much more plausible that writing code is fundamentally different from writing prose (even if they do share some similarities as language goes). There is a close connection between mathematical thinking, including all between basic arithmetic up to calculus, algebra and advanced research mathematics, and specific spatial abilities and skills (specifically mental rotation/transformation, but not other spatial/navigation skills [2]). Programming is also imo a mode of mathematical thinking, and in this one needs to construct and manipulate logical relations between objects and processes. This makes it different than prose, where the relations are of different natures. I think this is what is missing from this: math and programming alike involve a certain understanding and manipulation of relations, which uses our preexisting toolbox of spatial reasoning (which may or may not take the form of explicit mental visualisation; people with aphantasia can also be good in mental rotation tasks). [1] Origins of the brain networks for advanced mathematics in expert mathematicians https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1603205113 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1603205113 [2] Reimagining Mathematics: The Role of Mental Imagery in Explaining Mathematical Calculation Skills in Childhood https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mbe.12281 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mbe.12281