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Non-symbolic numerosities do not automatically activate spatial-numerical associations: Evidence from the SNARC
Alexandra A Cleland1, Kathryn Corsico1, Kirstin White1
1School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|August 22, 2019
Summary
This study found no spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect for non-symbolic number representations. Visual cues, not number magnitude, may explain previous findings of SNARC effects with non-symbolic stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Numerical Cognition
- Perception
Background:
- The spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect links number magnitude to spatial response location.
- While established for symbolic numbers, its occurrence with non-symbolic quantities, especially when irrelevant, is debated.
- Prior research suggested SNARC effects for non-symbolic stimuli, even within the subitizing range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of SNARC effects using non-symbolic number representations (triangle arrays).
- To determine if SNARC effects occur for non-symbolic quantities when magnitude is task-irrelevant.
- To re-evaluate previous findings on SNARC effects in non-symbolic number processing.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted using arrays of 1-9 triangles requiring orientation judgments (upwards vs. downwards).
- Stimuli controlled for total surface area across numerosities or varied congruently with numerosity.
- Original stimuli from a prior study (Mitchell et al.) were re-tested in Experiment 4.
Main Results:
- No SNARC effect was observed across the full range of non-symbolic quantities.
- No SNARC effect was found within the subitizing range (typically 1-3 items).
- Experiment 4 suggested that visual properties of stimuli, not numerosity, may drive SNARC-like effects.
Conclusions:
- Non-symbolic representations of number do not appear to provide a direct, automatic pathway for numerical-spatial associations.
- Visual confounds in non-symbolic stimuli may be responsible for previously reported SNARC effects.
- The SNARC effect is likely specific to symbolic number representations or requires careful control of visual features.
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