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The associations between space and order in numerical and non-numerical sequences
Chi-Ngai Cheung1, Stella F Lourenco1
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Consciousness and Cognition
|September 1, 2016
Summary
This study investigated spatial-numerical associations using an order judgment task. Findings support the Mental Number Line (MNL) model over the Working Memory (WM) model for numerical sequences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Spatial Cognition
Background:
- Spatial-numerical associations, linking numbers to space, are widely observed but their underlying mechanisms are debated.
- Two prominent theories, the Mental Number Line (MNL) model and the Working Memory (WM) model, offer competing explanations for these associations.
- Existing research presents conflicting data, necessitating further investigation to distinguish between these models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically test the predictions of the MNL and WM models regarding spatial-numerical associations.
- To determine whether spatial mappings are specific to numerical sequences or generalize to other ordered information.
- To clarify the cognitive basis of spatial-numerical associations through a direct experimental comparison.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed an order judgment task, determining if number or letter pairs were in ascending or descending order.
- The study analyzed spatial mappings of these judgments along horizontal and vertical axes across two experiments.
- A key comparison involved numerical sequences versus non-numerical sequences (e.g., letters) to differentiate model predictions.
Main Results:
- Consistent spatial mappings were observed for numerical order, aligning with the MNL model's predictions.
- These spatial-numerical associations held true for both horizontal and vertical spatial arrangements.
- In contrast, no consistent spatial mappings were found for non-numerical letter sequences, contradicting the WM model's prediction of a generalized mapping.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide evidence supporting the Mental Number Line (MNL) model as an explanation for spatial-numerical associations.
- The results suggest that spatial mappings are specific to numerical information and not a general feature of ordered sequences.
- This study contributes to resolving debates surrounding the cognitive underpinnings of numerical cognition and spatial representation.
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