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See detailDifferent number-processing tasks entail qualitatively different SNARC effects
Georges, Carrie UL; Hoffmann, Danielle UL; Schiltz, Christine UL

Poster (2014, October)

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand ... [more ▼]

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand respectively. Although the SNARC effect has been extensively replicated, it is characterized by high inter-individual variability (e.g. Hoffmann et al., 2014). Moreover, even though number-space associations have been observed when numerical magnitude is both relevant (e.g. magnitude comparison) and irrelevant (e.g. parity and color judgment) for successful task completion, their strengths and underlying cognitive processes seem to vary depending on whether explicit reference to numerical magnitude is drawn or not (Fias et al., 2001; Mitchell et al., 2012). To further evaluate this hypothesis, we examined whether the SNARC effects observed in a single individual during distinct number-processing tasks were systematically linked. We computed correlations between the SNARC effects measured during a parity, magnitude and color judgment task in a population of 85 healthy university students (39 females, mean age=23.44 years). Interestingly, no relation could be observed between the color (slope=-6.79) and magnitude SNARC effects (slope=-6.98; r=0.18, p=0.11), indicating that number-space associations potentially underlie different cognitive operations in tasks with and without explicit numerical magnitude processing. Conversely, the parity SNARC effect (slope=-11.58) correlated with both the color (r=0.36, p=0.001) and magnitude SNARC effects (r=0.36, p=0.001). This suggests that although no explicit numerical magnitude treatment is required in the parity task – explaining its relationship with the color task – the involvement of number semantics is sufficient to position it in line with the magnitude judgment task. [less ▲]

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Peer Reviewed
See detailCognitive style influences number-space associations
Georges, Carrie UL; Hoffmann, Danielle UL; Schiltz, Christine UL

Poster (2014, May)

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand ... [more ▼]

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand respectively. The cognitive processes underlying the SNARC effect are suggested to be task-dependent, such that number-space interactions result from verbal-spatial and visual-spatial number coding in parity and magnitude judgment tasks respectively (van Dijck et al., 2009). Moreover, the SNARC effect is characterized by high inter-individual variability (Hoffmann et al., 2014). Here we aimed to determine whether differences between the cognitive styles of individuals could influence the SNARC effect in a parity and magnitude judgment task. To distinguish between verbal and visual cognitive styles and between object- and spatial-visualizers, participants (n=74, 36 females, mean age=23.45 years) completed a modified version of Kirby et al.’s (1988) Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire (VVQ, as in Mendelson & Thorson, 2004) and the Object-Spatial Imagery Questionnaire (OSIQ, Blajenkova et al., 2006, purchased from MM Virtual Design, LLC) respectively. Each item was placed on a five-point rating scale between strongly agree and strongly disagree, allowing us to compute verbal, visual, object and spatial scores for each participant. Participants that featured visual/verbal and spatial/object score ratios that were either both below or above the respective median ratio (visual/verbal ratio: M=1.09; spatial/object ratio: M=0.87) were classified as verbalizers (n=25, 16 females) and spatial-visualizers (n=25, 10 females) respectively. Participants subsequently performed the classical parity and magnitude judgment tasks. In verbalizers, the SNARC effect was significantly negative in the parity (slope=-11.2, p=0.001), but not the magnitude judgment task (slope=-1.2, p=0.53). Their verbal cognitive style might thus have induced a strong number-space association in tasks that supposedly draw on these cognitive processes, while it prevented spatial-numerical interactions in tasks that activate visuo-spatial number coding. Conversely, spatial-visualizers featured a significantly negative magnitude SNARC effect (slope=-4.8, p=0.04), indicating that a visuo-spatial style is not only necessary but sufficient to generate a number-space association in tasks that favour visuo-spatial number coding. Interestingly, they also manifested a significantly negative parity SNARC effect (slope=-9.9, p<0.001). It is likely that the spatial-visualizers switched strategy for the parity judgment task and - despite their visuo-spatial preferences - adopted the better-suited verbal strategy. Indeed, in contrast to verbalizers, their parity and magnitude SNARC effects did not correlate (spatial-visualizers: r=0.14, p=0.5; verbalizers: r=0.4, p=0.05). All in all, differences in cognitive styles might provide an additional explanation for the high inter-individual variability of the SNARC effect. Moreover, we provided further evidence for the verbal-spatial and visuo-spatial nature of the parity and magnitude SNARC effects respectively. [less ▲]

Detailed reference viewed: 149 (17 UL)
Peer Reviewed
See detailTask instructions determine the visuo-spatial and verbal-spatial nature of number-space associations
Georges, Carrie UL; Schiltz, Christine UL; Hoffmann, Danielle UL

Poster (2014, April)

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times (RTs) to small/large digits with the left/right ... [more ▼]

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times (RTs) to small/large digits with the left/right hand respectively. Classically, they are thought to result from numerical coding along a left-to-right-oriented mental number line (visuo-spatial account; Dehaene et al., 1993). Recently, an association between the verbal concepts “small”/“left” and “large”/“right” has been suggested as an alternative explanation (verbal-spatial account; Gevers et al., 2010). Since the predominance of these accounts remains debated, we aimed to determine whether task instructions influence their extent of explaining the SNARC effect. A magnitude comparison task where the verbal labels “left”/“right” were displayed on the left/right response side alternatively allowed us to directly contrast the two accounts by comparing verbal SNARC slopes (based on differences in RTs to the labels “left” and “right”) with classical spatial SNARC slopes (based on differences in RTs to the left and right response side). In the verbal condition, participants (41 students, 20 female, mean age=21.6) responded to the assigned labels irrespective of their side of appearance, whereas the spatial condition required responding to the left or right response side irrespective of the displayed label. Under verbal instructions, only the verbal slope was significantly negative (verbal slope=-67.54, spatial slope=-4.82). Conversely, no significant difference was observed between verbal and spatial slopes under spatial instructions – both slopes being significantly negative (verbal slope=-15.12, spatial slope=-29.39). Taken together, number-space associations arise from verbal coding regardless of task instructions, while spatial coding only occurs under spatial instructions. [less ▲]

Detailed reference viewed: 91 (21 UL)
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See detailThe SNARC effect and its relationship to spatial abilities in women
Georges, Carrie UL; Hoffmann, Danielle UL; Schiltz, Christine UL

Poster (2013)

A classical demonstration of number-space associations is the so-called SNARC (Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes) effect. It consists in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the ... [more ▼]

A classical demonstration of number-space associations is the so-called SNARC (Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes) effect. It consists in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand respectively. To get a better understanding of the well-documented inter-individual variability in the SNARC effect, we investigated the relationship between the classically used parity SNARC and spatial abilities, as indexed by visuo-spatial working memory capacity (WMC). The study population consisted of female university students (n=20; mean age=23.79; SD=2.50) recruited in the fields of humanities and educational sciences. Since systematic studies on the reliability of the SNARC effect are still lacking, we first measured the internal consistency, as assessed by split-half reliability, as well as test-retest reliability of the parity SNARC. Split-half and test-retest correlation coefficients were (r(19)=0.41; p<0.05) and (r(19)=0.25; p=0.14) respectively, indicating a trend towards consistency. In the present female population, a significant negative correlation was revealed between the strength of the parity SNARC effect (mean slope=-10.04; SD=8.66) and visuo-spatial WMC (mean WMC=2.85; SD=1.12; r(19)=-0.51; p<0.05). This finding thus indicates that number-space associations as measured by the parity SNARC effect tend to be stronger in young female adults with higher spatial abilities. [less ▲]

Detailed reference viewed: 166 (14 UL)