On the relationship between handedness and hand-digit mapping in finger counting.
The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate hand-digit mapping in finger counting in French children and adults and whether handedness might constraint hand-digit mapping. To this aim, hand-digit mapping used when counting from one to ten by means of fingers, together with performance-based and preference-based measures of handedness, were evaluated in French individuals of four different age groups (4-5 years old, 6-7 years old, 10-11 years old and 24-47 years old). Irrespective of the age group, analyses revealed a strong tendency to use first the right hand to count from one to five and then the left hand to count from six to ten. In addition, a significant interaction between hand-digit mapping and hand preference was found, with participants who used first their right hand to count reporting higher right-hand preference in unimanual activities. These findings are discussed in light of recent studies assuming a link between finger-counting habits and numerical processing.
Sato
Marc
M
GIPSA-Lab, Département Parole et Cognition, CNRS UMR 5216, Université Grenoble, Grenoble, France. marc.sato@mail.mcgill.ca
Lalain
Muriel
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values