Numerical Values Leave a Semantic Imprint on Associated Signs in Monkeys

Animals and humans share an evolutionary ancient quantity representation which is characterized by analog magnitude features: Discriminating magnitudes becomes more difficult with increasing set sizes (size effect) and with decreasing distance between two numerosities (distance effect). Humans show these effects even with number symbols. We wondered whether monkeys would show the same psychophysical effects with numerical signs and addressed this issue by training three monkeys to associate visual shapes with numerosities. We then confronted the monkeys with trials in which they had to match these visual signs with each other. The monkeys' performance in this shape versus shape protocol was positively correlated with the numerical distance and the magnitudes associated with the signs. Additionally, the monkeys responded significantly slower for signs with higher assigned numerical values. These findings suggest that the numerical values imprint their analog magnitudes characteristics onto the associated visual sign in monkeys, an effect that we also found reflected in the discharges of prefrontal neurons. This provides evidence for a precursor of the human number symbol knowledge.

Download Full-text

Professional mathematicians do not differ from others in the symbolic numerical distance and size effects

10.31234/osf.io/evzpa ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mateusz Hohol ◽

Klaus Willmes ◽

Edward Nęcka ◽

Bartosz Brożek ◽

Hans-Christoph Nuerk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Size Effect ◽

Size Effects ◽

Reference Group ◽

Distance Effect ◽

Numerical Distance ◽

Single Digit ◽

Mathematical Skills ◽

Numerical Distance Effect ◽

Individual Level ◽

The Individual

The numerical distance effect (it is easier to compare numbers that are further apart) and size effect (for a constant distance, it is easier to compare smaller numbers) characterize symbolic number processing. However, evidence for a relationship between these two basic phenomena and more complex mathematical skills is mixed. Previously this relationship has only been studied in participants with normal or poor mathematical skills, not in mathematicians. Furthermore, the prevalence of these effects at the individual level is not known. Here we compared professional mathematicians, engineers, social scientists, and a reference group using the symbolic magnitude classification task with single-digit Arabic numbers. The groups did not differ with respect to symbolic numerical distance and size effects in either frequentist or Bayesian analyses. Moreover, we looked at their prevalence at the individual level using the bootstrapping method: while a reliable numerical distance effect was present in almost all participants, the prevalence of a reliable numerical size effect was much lower. Again, prevalence did not differ between groups. In summary, the phenomena were neither more pronounced nor more prevalent in mathematicians, suggesting that extremely high mathematical skills neither rely on nor have special consequences for analogue processing of symbolic numerical magnitudes.

Download Full-text

Non-numerical Distance and Size Effects in an Ant

Journal of Biology and Life Science ◽

10.5296/jbls.v11i2.16895 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Marie-Claire Cammaerts ◽

Roger Cammaerts

Keyword(s):

Size Effect ◽

Operant Conditioning ◽

Size Effects ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Distance Effect ◽

Just Noticeable Difference ◽

Numerical Distance ◽

Weber's Law ◽

Different Dimensions ◽

Similar Elements

The distance effect (the fact that the individuals’ discrimination between two similar elements increases with the magnitude of the distance between them) as well as the size effect (the fact that the individuals’ discrimination between two similar elements decreases with the size of these elements) have been largely reported in vertebrates but not in invertebrates. Here, we demonstrate their existence in an ant, using operant conditioning to visual cues (black circles) of different dimensions. The two effects were obvious and differed from one another. Both effects could be accounted for Weber’s law, but it was here not tempted to verify if they are in line with this law by defining the just noticeable difference the ants can perceive between the cues.

Download Full-text

A high working memory load eliminates the numerical distance effect

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e520592012-617 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Erin A. Maloney ◽

Evan F. Risko ◽

Derek Besner ◽

Jonathan A. Fugelsang

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Memory Load ◽

Distance Effect ◽

Numerical Distance ◽

Working Memory Load ◽

Numerical Distance Effect

Download Full-text

Social status as magnitude: The distance effect and size effect in social hierarchies

10.31237/osf.io/8cknw ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jostein Holmgren

Keyword(s):

Size Effect ◽

Social Status ◽

Social Life ◽

Distance Effect ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Relational Models ◽

Social Hierarchies ◽

Bachelor Of Arts ◽

Relational Models Theory ◽

Human Social Life

Thesis type: Bachelor of Arts, PsychologyAuthor: Jostein HolmgrenSupervisor: Thomas Wolfgang SchubertGrade: A (Highest obtainable)Institution: Department of Psychology, University of OsloSocial status is a core feature of human social life. Recently, researchers have begun exploring a possible link between the processing of social status and physical dimensions. Drawing on several theoretical frameworks, including Relational Models Theory, embodied cognition, and the Analog Magnitude System (AMS), the author argues for social status being a dimension processed similarly to physical magnitudes. The present study replicates previous findings of a distance effect typical of magnitudes in the domain of social status, and offers novel evidence for a size effect. Although with limitations, the evidence suggests that social status is processed as any other dimension in the AMS.

Download Full-text

Numerical distance effect in the N240 component in a number-matching task

Neuroreport ◽

10.1097/01.wnr.0000221840.12632.9f ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 991-994 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Xinlin Zhou ◽

Chuansheng Chen ◽

Qi Dong ◽

Hongchuan Zhang ◽

Chunhui Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distance Effect ◽

Matching Task ◽

Numerical Distance ◽

Numerical Distance Effect

Download Full-text

Of Colored Numbers and Numbered Colors

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169.56.3.180 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 180-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Titia Gebuis ◽

Tanja C.W. Nijboer ◽

Maarten J. van der Smagt

Keyword(s):

Congruency Effect ◽

Distance Effect ◽

Task Demands ◽

Numerical Distance ◽

Similar Magnitude ◽

Numerical Distance Effect ◽

Precise Nature ◽

Priming Task ◽

Color Priming

Grapheme-color synesthetes experience a specific color when they see a grapheme but they do not report to perceive a grapheme when a color is presented. In this study, we investigate whether color can still evoke number-processes even when a vivid number experience is absent. We used color-number and number-color priming, both revealing faster responses in congruent compared to incongruent conditions. Interestingly, the congruency effect was of similar magnitude for both conditions, and a numerical distance effect was present only in the color-number priming task. In addition, a priming task in which synesthetes had to judge the parity of a colored number revealed faster responses in parity congruent than in parity incongruent trials. These combined results demonstrate that synesthesia is indeed bi-directional and of similar strength in both directions. Furthermore, they illustrate the precise nature of these interactions and show that the direction of these interactions is determined by task demands, not by the more vividly experienced aspect of the stimulus.

Download Full-text