title: SNARC struggles: Instant control over spatial-numerical associations.
abstract: [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 39(6) of Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition (see record 2013-39107-001). In the article, incorrect values appeared for the number of trials in the experiment (section: Procedure) and for the intercepts of four regression lines (section: Regression Coefficient Analysis). The correct number of trials in the experiment is 16 trials in a training block followed by 10 blocks of 128 trials each. The intercepts for response repetitions amounted to 0.72 ms for the SNARC effect following incongruent trials, and to 51.55ms following congruent trials. For response alternations, the intercepts amounted to 35.39 ms for the SNARC effect following incongruent trials and to 50.88 ms following congruent trials. The conclusions presented in the article are not affected by these mistakes.] Numbers and space are tightly linked-a phenomenon that is referred to as the spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect (Dehaene, Bossini, & Giraux, 1993). The present study investigates how quickly and flexibly the behavioral impact of such spatial-numerical associations can be controlled. Participants performed a parity judgment task, and we examined how the SNARC effect is influenced by the preceding congruency between the required response and the target number's spatial association. Results indicate that the SNARC effect is reduced instantly after having experienced a number's spatial association to interfere with responding. This sequential modulation indicates a pronounced flexibility of spatial-numerical associations driven by cognitive control mechanisms.
authors: Department of Psychology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Pfister
authors: Philipp A
authors: PA
authors: Schroeder
authors: Wilfried
authors: W
authors: Kunde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001244:Association; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult