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Small numerosity advantage for sequential enumeration on RSVP stimuli: an object individuation-based account
Xiaorong Cheng1,2,3, Chunyan Lin1,2,3, Chunmiao Lou1,2,3
1Central China Normal University, School of Psychology, 430079, Wuhan, China.
Psychological Research
|November 8, 2019
Summary
The small numerosity advantage (SNA) extends to sequential enumeration, showing high precision. This suggests a shared resource for object individuation underlies both sequential and simultaneous counting.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Perception
Background:
- The small numerosity advantage (SNA) is well-documented for simultaneous item presentation (subitizing).
- Its manifestation in sequential enumeration remains less understood.
- Investigating SNA in sequential tasks is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of numerosity processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a processing advantage for small numerosities in sequential enumeration.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of SNA in sequential enumeration.
- To generalize findings from spatial to temporal numerosity processing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm.
- Employed sequential enumeration tasks.
- Tested a resource competition hypothesis involving object individuation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated accurate and precise enumeration of small sets in fast sequences.
- Confirmed a stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA)-sensitive capacity limit.
- Provided evidence for a shared resource of object individuation competing between sequential enumeration and visual working memory (VWM).
Conclusions:
- The small numerosity advantage (SNA) is generalizable to the temporal domain of sequential enumeration.
- Sequential enumeration and visual working memory (VWM) compete for a limited object individuation resource.
- Object individuation plays a pivotal role in enumeration and VWM, highlighting the dynamic nature of cognitive processes.
