TY - JOUR
T1 - Numbers are represented in egocentric space
T2 - Effects of numerical cues and spatial reference frames on hand laterality judgements
AU - Conson, Massimiliano
AU - Mazzarella, Elisabetta
AU - Trojano, Luigi
PY - 2009/3/13
Y1 - 2009/3/13
N2 - Convergent findings demonstrate that numbers can be represented according to a spatially oriented mental number line. However, it is not established whether a default organization of the mental number line exists (i.e., a left-to-right orientation) or whether its spatial arrangement is only the epiphenomenon of specific task requirements. To address this issue we performed two experiments in which subjects were required to judge laterality of hand stimuli preceded by small, medium or large numerical cues; hand stimuli were compatible with egocentric or allocentric perspectives. We found evidence of a left-to-right number-hand association in processing stimuli compatible with an egocentric perspective, whereas the reverse mapping was found with hands compatible with an allocentric perspective. These findings demonstrate that the basic left-to-right arrangement of the mental number line is defined with respect to the body-centred egocentric reference frame.
AB - Convergent findings demonstrate that numbers can be represented according to a spatially oriented mental number line. However, it is not established whether a default organization of the mental number line exists (i.e., a left-to-right orientation) or whether its spatial arrangement is only the epiphenomenon of specific task requirements. To address this issue we performed two experiments in which subjects were required to judge laterality of hand stimuli preceded by small, medium or large numerical cues; hand stimuli were compatible with egocentric or allocentric perspectives. We found evidence of a left-to-right number-hand association in processing stimuli compatible with an egocentric perspective, whereas the reverse mapping was found with hands compatible with an allocentric perspective. These findings demonstrate that the basic left-to-right arrangement of the mental number line is defined with respect to the body-centred egocentric reference frame.
KW - Body representation
KW - Egocentric representation
KW - Numerical cognition
KW - Visuospatial cognition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60249094664&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.01.043
DO - 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.01.043
M3 - Article
C2 - 19383434
AN - SCOPUS:60249094664
VL - 452
SP - 176
EP - 180
JO - Neuroscience Letters
JF - Neuroscience Letters
SN - 0304-3940
IS - 2
ER -