Abstract:
The current study examined predictions from embodied cognition for effects of finger counting on number processing. Although finger counting is spontaneous and nearly universal, counting habits reflect learning and culture. European cultures use a sub-base-five system, requiring a full hand plus additional fingers to express numbers exceeding 5. Chinese culture requires only one hand to express such numbers. We investigated the differential impact of early-acquired finger-based number representations on adult symbolic number processing. In total, 53 European and 56 Chinese adults performed two versions of the magnitude classification task, where numbers were presented either as Arabic symbols or as finger configurations consistent with respective cultural finger-counting habits. Participants classified numbers as smaller/larger than 5 with horizontally aligned buttons. Finger-based size and distance effects were larger in Chinese compared with Europeans. These differences did not, however, induce reliably different symbol processing signatures. This dissociation challenges the idea that sensory and motor habits shape our conceptual representations and implies notation-specific processing patterns.
摘要:
当前的研究检查了体现认知对手指计数对数字处理影响的预测。虽然手指计数是自发的,几乎是普遍的,计数习惯反映了学习和文化。欧洲文化使用的是亚基五系统,需要一个完整的手加上额外的手指来表示数字超过5。中国文化只需要一只手来表达这样的数字。我们研究了早期获得的基于手指的数字表示对成人符号数字处理的不同影响。总的来说,53名欧洲人和56名中国成年人执行了两个版本的震级分类任务,其中数字以阿拉伯符号或与各自的文化手指计数习惯一致的手指配置表示。参与者使用水平对齐的按钮将数字分类为小于/大于5。与欧洲人相比,中国人基于手指的大小和距离效应更大。这些差异没有,然而,诱导可靠的不同符号处理签名。这种分离挑战了感官和运动习惯塑造我们的概念表示并暗示特定于符号的处理模式的想法。