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Neglect disrupts the mental number line

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Zorzi

    (Università di Padova
    Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele)

  • Konstantinos Priftis

    (Università di Padova)

  • Carlo Umiltà

    (Università di Padova)

Abstract

A popular metaphor for the representation of numbers in the brain is the 'mental number line', in which numbers are represented in a continuous, quantity-based analogical format1,2. Here we show that patients with hemispatial neglect3 misplace the midpoint of a numerical interval when asked to bisect it (for example, stating that five is halfway between two and six), with an error pattern that closely resembles the bisection of physical lines4. This new form of representational neglect constitutes strong evidence that the mental number line is more than simply a metaphor, and that its spatial nature renders it functionally isomorphic to physical lines.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Zorzi & Konstantinos Priftis & Carlo Umiltà, 2002. "Neglect disrupts the mental number line," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6885), pages 138-139, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:417:y:2002:i:6885:d:10.1038_417138a
    DOI: 10.1038/417138a
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    Cited by:

    1. Marie-Claire Cammaerts & Roger Cammaerts, 2021. "Young Ants Already Possess a Mental Number Line," International Journal of Biology, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 1-1, December.
    2. Peter Wakker & Veronika Köbberling & Christiane Schwieren, 2007. "Prospect-theory’s Diminishing Sensitivity Versus Economics’ Intrinsic Utility of Money: How the Introduction of the Euro can be Used to Disentangle the Two Empirically," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 205-231, November.
    3. Hermann Bulf & Viola Macchi Cassia & Maria Dolores de Hevia, 2014. "Are Numbers, Size and Brightness Equally Efficient in Orienting Visual Attention? Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-6, June.
    4. Ping Ren & Michael E R Nicholls & Yuan-ye Ma & Lin Chen, 2011. "Size Matters: Non-Numerical Magnitude Affects the Spatial Coding of Response," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-6, August.
    5. Maria Dolores de Hevia & Luisa Girelli & Margaret Addabbo & Viola Macchi Cassia, 2014. "Human Infants' Preference for Left-to-Right Oriented Increasing Numerical Sequences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-10, May.
    6. Patrizia Turriziani & Massimiliano Oliveri & Sonia Bonnì & Giacomo Koch & Daniela Smirni & Lisa Cipolotti, 2009. "Exploring the Relationship between Semantics and Space," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(4), pages 1-11, April.
    7. Arnaud Viarouge & Edward M Hubbard & Bruce D McCandliss, 2014. "The Cognitive Mechanisms of the SNARC Effect: An Individual Differences Approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-10, April.

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