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Embodied numerosity: Implicit hand-based representations influence symbolic number processing across cultures

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Title: Embodied numerosity: Implicit hand-based representations influence symbolic number processing across cultures
Authors: Domahs, Frank1,2,3 domahs@neuropsych.rwth-aachen.de, Moeller, Korbinian4, Huber, Stefan5, Willmes, Klaus1,3, Nuerk, Hans-Christoph4
Source: Cognition. Aug2010, Vol. 116 Issue 2, p251-266. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Counting, *Cognition, Finger calculation, Human information processing, Arithmetic, Representation (Psychoanalysis), Germans, Chinese people
Abstract: Abstract: In recent years, a strong functional relationship between finger counting and number processing has been suggested. Developmental studies have shown specific effects of the structure of the individual finger counting system on arithmetic abilities. Moreover, the orientation of the mental quantity representation (“number line”) seems to be influenced by finger counting habits. However, it is unclear whether the structure of finger counting systems still influences symbolic number processing in educated adults. In the present transcultural study, we pursued this question by examining finger-based sub-base-five effects in an Arabic number comparison task with three different groups of participants (German deaf signers, German and Chinese hearing adults). We observed sub-base-five effects in all groups, but particularly so for both German groups who use an explicit sub-base-five system in their finger counting habits. It is concluded that bodily experiences – namely finger counting – influence the structure of the abstract mental number representations even in adults. Thus, the present findings support the general idea that even seemingly abstract cognition may at least partially be rooted in our bodily experiences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Abstract: In recent years, a strong functional relationship between finger counting and number processing has been suggested. Developmental studies have shown specific effects of the structure of the individual finger counting system on arithmetic abilities. Moreover, the orientation of the mental quantity representation (“number line”) seems to be influenced by finger counting habits. However, it is unclear whether the structure of finger counting systems still influences symbolic number processing in educated adults. In the present transcultural study, we pursued this question by examining finger-based sub-base-five effects in an Arabic number comparison task with three different groups of participants (German deaf signers, German and Chinese hearing adults). We observed sub-base-five effects in all groups, but particularly so for both German groups who use an explicit sub-base-five system in their finger counting habits. It is concluded that bodily experiences – namely finger counting – influence the structure of the abstract mental number representations even in adults. Thus, the present findings support the general idea that even seemingly abstract cognition may at least partially be rooted in our bodily experiences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
ISSN:00100277
DOI:10.1016/j.cognition.2010.05.007