Different sources of evidence point to the strict interaction between finger counting and number processing. However, the influence of handedness on finger counting direction (Sato, & Lalain, 2008) as well as on the mapping of numbers in the representational space (Fischer, 2008) is still debated. The present study aims to explore the reciprocal interaction between handedness, finger counting habits, and orientation of the numerical spatial representation. To this aim, we contrasted Italian left-handed and right-handed participants in a counting task, a parity judgments task, and several computerized tasks requiring the bisection of digit (i.e. 11111) and counting (i.e. 123456789) strings. Results showed that handedness fully predicts finger counting direction, i.e., right-handed are “right-starters” and left-handed are “left-starters”. However, both groups showed comparable S-R compatibility effect (SNARC) and visuo-perceptual effects in the bisection tasks. These results favour the hypothesis according to which visual scanning direction rather than finger counting direction is the dominant factor in mapping numbers in the representational space.

Previtali, P., Girelli, L. (2009). Mapping Numbers on the Hand and on the Head: Which Direction?. Intervento presentato a: Workshop on cultural effects on the mental number line, York.

Mapping Numbers on the Hand and on the Head: Which Direction?

PREVITALI, PAOLA;GIRELLI, LUISA
2009

Abstract

Different sources of evidence point to the strict interaction between finger counting and number processing. However, the influence of handedness on finger counting direction (Sato, & Lalain, 2008) as well as on the mapping of numbers in the representational space (Fischer, 2008) is still debated. The present study aims to explore the reciprocal interaction between handedness, finger counting habits, and orientation of the numerical spatial representation. To this aim, we contrasted Italian left-handed and right-handed participants in a counting task, a parity judgments task, and several computerized tasks requiring the bisection of digit (i.e. 11111) and counting (i.e. 123456789) strings. Results showed that handedness fully predicts finger counting direction, i.e., right-handed are “right-starters” and left-handed are “left-starters”. However, both groups showed comparable S-R compatibility effect (SNARC) and visuo-perceptual effects in the bisection tasks. These results favour the hypothesis according to which visual scanning direction rather than finger counting direction is the dominant factor in mapping numbers in the representational space.
abstract + poster
number representation, finger counting, reading direction
English
Workshop on cultural effects on the mental number line
2009
2009
none
Previtali, P., Girelli, L. (2009). Mapping Numbers on the Hand and on the Head: Which Direction?. Intervento presentato a: Workshop on cultural effects on the mental number line, York.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/8786
Citazioni
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact