The role of working memory in the association between number magnitude and space.
In two experiments, participants performed a magnitude comparison task in single and dual-task conditions. In the dual conditions, the comparison task was accomplished while phonological or visuospatial information had to be maintained for a later recall test. The results showed that the requirement of maintaining visuospatial information produced the lack of spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect. The SNARC effect was not found even when the performance in the comparison task did not decline, as indicated by a similar distance effect in all conditions. These results show a special role for the visuospatial component of working memory in the processing of spatial representation of numbers and an interesting dissociation between SNARC and distance effects.
Herrera
Amparo
A
Agora Center, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. aherrera@um.es
Macizo
Pedro
P
Semenza
Carlo
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010700:Phonetics; D013028:Space Perception; D014796:Visual Perception