Perceiving numbers causes spatial shifts of attention.
Number symbols are part of our everyday visual world. Here we show that merely looking at numbers causes a shift in covert attention to the left or right side, depending upon the number's magnitude. This observation implies obligatory activation of number meaning and signals a tight coupling of internal and external representations of space.
Fischer
Martin H
MH
Psychology Department, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland. m.h.fischer@dundee.ac.uk
Castel
Alan D
AD
Dodd
Michael D
MD
Pratt
Jay
J
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013561:Symbolism; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology