The number-space interaction at the perceptual and the reppresentational level

The spatial representation of numbers is intimately related with action. Evidence for the influence of the numerical information on specific motor components has been found by means of various and original tasks. Automatic activation of the numerical magnitude code has been proposed to account for the numerical influence on motor tasks such as i) lateralized movements or unimanual responses, and ii) manual gestures such as grasping and different grip aperture. The present thesis contributes to this line of research exploring the MNL and ‘cognitive illusion’ hypotheses by means of visuo-spatial and motor tasks. The general question we address is to what extent and at which stage the spatial mapping of numbers in the representational space (MNL) and the interaction between numerical and physical magnitude (‘cognitive illusion’) interferes with the motor system.