Which numbers do you have in mind? Number generation is influenced by reading direction

Silke M. Göbel, Carolin A. Maier, Samuel Shaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In Western participants, small numbers are associated with left and larger numbers with right space. A biological account proposes that brain asymmetries lead to these attentional asymmetries in number space. In contrast, a cultural account proposes that the direction of this association is shaped by reading direction. We explored whether number generation is influenced by reading direction in participants from a left-to-right (UK) and a right-to-left (Arab) reading culture. Participants generated numbers randomly while lying on their left and right side. The mean number generated by participants from a left-to-right reading culture was smaller when they lay on their left than on their right side, and the opposite was found for participants from a right-to-left reading culture. Asymmetries in number space observed in number generation are more compatible with a cultural than biological account.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-244
Number of pages4
JournalCognitive Processing
Volume16
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2015

Keywords

  • Cognitive development
  • Cross-cultural
  • Mental number line
  • Numerical cognition
  • Spatial cognition

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Artificial Intelligence

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