title: Holistic representation of unit fractions.
abstract: The present study examined the processing of unit fractions and the extent to which it is affected by context. Using a numerical comparison task we found evidence for a holistic representation of unit fractions when the immediate context of the fractions was emphasized, that is when the stimuli set included in addition to the unit fractions also the numbers 0 and 1. The holistic representation was indicated by the semantic congruity effect for comparisons of pairs of fractions and by the distance effect in comparisons of a fraction and 0 and 1. Consistent with previous results (Bonato, Fabbri, Umilta, & Zorzi, 2007) there was no evidence for a holistic representation of unit fractions when the stimulus set included only fractions. These findings suggest that fraction processing is context-dependent. Finally, the present results are discussed in the context of processing other complex numbers beyond the first decade.
authors.affiliation: Achva Academic College, M.P. Shikmim, Israel. danaga@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ganor-Stern
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karasik-Rivkin
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tzelgov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D012660:Semantics; D013028:Space Perception; D055815:Young Adult