title: The effect of working memory load on the SNARC effect: Maybe tasks have a word to say.
abstract: We investigated the effect of working memory load on the SNARC (spatial-numerical association of response codes) effect under different number judgment tasks (parity judgment and magnitude comparison), using a novel dual task. Instead of exerting load over the whole block of number judgment trials, in this dual task, number judgment trials were inserted into each interstimulus interval of an n-back task, which served as the working memory load. We varied both load type (verbal and spatial) and amount (1-load, 2-load, and 3-load). The results indicated that the SNARC effect disappeared even under the 1-load condition for a parity judgment, regardless of the type of load. However, during the magnitude comparison task, the SNARC effect increased with increasing load amounts under spatial load conditions; under verbal load conditions, the SNARC effect decreased with increasing amounts of load, and disappeared during the 3-load task. The difference between the parity and magnitude tasks was not attributable to the interval stimuli or task switching. These findings confirm that different spatial-numerical associations for comparing numerical magnitudes and judgments of parity have different needs with respect to working memory resources.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. chenyinghe@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yinghe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoshuang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dual task; Magnitude comparison task; Parity judgment task; SNARC effect; Working memory load