title: Mental number space in three dimensions.
abstract: A large number of experimental findings from neuroscience and experimental psychology demonstrated interactions between spatial cognition and numerical cognition. In particular, many researchers posited a horizontal mental number line, where small numbers are thought of as being to the left of larger numbers. This review synthesizes work on the mental association between space and number, indicating the existence of multiple spatial mappings: recent research has found associations between number and vertical space, as well as associations between number and near/far space. We discuss number space in three dimensions with an eye on potential origins of the different number mappings, and how these number mappings fit in with our current knowledge of brain organization and brain-culture interactions. We derive novel predictions and show how this research fits into a general view of cognition as embodied, grounded and situated.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., 95340 Merced, CA, USA. Electronic address: bodo@bodowinter.com.
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., 95340 Merced, CA, USA. Electronic address: tmatlock@ucmerced.edu.
authors.forename: Teenie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matlock
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel. Electronic address: samuel_shaki@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam OT Golm, Germany. Electronic address: martinf@uni-potsdam.de.
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Embodiment; Intra-parietal sulcus; Mental number line; Metaphor; Neglect; SNARC; Spatial cognition