Single-digit Arabic numbers do not automatically activate magnitude representations in adults or in children: evidence from the symbolic same-different task.
We investigated whether the mere presentation of single-digit Arabic numbers activates their magnitude representations using a visually-presented symbolic same-different task for 20 adults and 15 children. Participants saw two single-digit Arabic numbers on a screen and judged whether the numbers were the same or different. We examined whether reaction time in this task was primarily driven by (objective or subjective) perceptual similarity, or by the numerical difference between the two digits. We reasoned that, if Arabic numbers automatically activate magnitude representations, a numerical function would best predict reaction time; but if Arabic numbers do not automatically activate magnitude representations, a perceptual function would best predict reaction time. Linear regressions revealed that a perceptual function, specifically, subjective visual similarity, was the best and only significant predictor of reaction time in adults and in children. These data strongly suggest that, in this task, single-digit Arabic numbers do not necessarily automatically activate magnitude representations in adults or in children. As the first study to date to explicitly study the developmental importance of perceptual factors in the symbolic same-different task, we found no significant differences between adults and children in their reliance on perceptual information in this task. Based on our findings, we propose that visual properties may play a key role in symbolic number judgements.
Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: beckyw@singnet.com.sg.
Becky
B
Wong
Dénes
D
Szücs
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D013561:Symbolism; D055815:Young Adult
2323; 2340; 2820; Automaticity; Magnitude representations; Numerical cognition; Same–different task; Symbolic numbers