Cognitive representation of negative numbers.
To understand negative numbers, must we refer to positive number representations (the phylogenetic hypothesis), or do we acquire a negative mental number line (the ontogenetic hypothesis)? In the experiment reported here, participants made lateralized button responses to indicate the larger of two digits from the range -9 to 9. Digit pairs were displayed spatially congruent or incongruent with either a phylogenetic or an ontogenetic mental number line. The pattern of decision latencies suggests that negative numbers become associated with left space, thus supporting the ontogenetic view.
Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland. m.h.fischer@dundee.ac.uk
Martin H
MH
Fischer
D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time