Lateral biases in aesthetic and spatial location judgments: differences between tasks and native reading directions

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Humans typically exhibit a leftward spatial bias in various tasks.
• This leftward bias is attenuated in individuals whose native reading direction is not left-to-right (LTR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate spatial ability and aesthetic preferences in LTR and right-to-left (RTL) readers using similar task procedures.
• To explore how native reading direction influences visuospatial biases and aesthetic judgments.

Main Methods:

• Participants completed a spatial task involving estimating the center of a circle and an aesthetic task using a virtual flashlight on abstract paintings.
• Procedurally similar tasks were employed to compare LTR and RTL groups.
• Eye-tracking or behavioral measures were used to quantify visual scanning patterns.

Main Results:

• Contrary to predictions, the spatial task showed smaller errors for circles on the right, with accuracy decreasing as circle size increased.
• LTR participants demonstrated a leftward bias in aesthetic light placement, while RTL participants showed a slight rightward bias.
• Visual scanning patterns differed between groups during the aesthetic task, with distinct leftward or rightward scanning times.

Conclusions:

• Directional scanning biases can attenuate leftward lateral biases.
• The specific visuospatial task can influence the magnitude and direction of lateral biases.
• Reading direction is a significant factor modulating spatial cognition and aesthetic preferences.