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The Cognitive Mechanisms of the SNARC Effect: An Individual Differences Approach

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  • Arnaud Viarouge
  • Edward M Hubbard
  • Bruce D McCandliss

Abstract

Access to mental representations of smaller vs. larger number symbols is associated with leftward vs. rightward spatial locations, as represented on a number line. The well-replicated SNARC effect (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Codes) reveals that simple decisions about small numbers are facilitated when stimuli are presented on the left, and large numbers facilitated when on the right. We present novel evidence that the size of the SNARC effect is relatively stable within individuals over time. This enables us to take an individual differences approach to investigate how the SNARC effect is modulated by spatial and numerical cognition. Are number-space associations linked to spatial operations, such that those who have greater facility in spatial computations show the stronger SNARC effects, or are they linked to number semantics, such that those showing stronger influence of magnitude associations on number symbol decisions show stronger SNARC effects? Our results indicate a significant correlation between the SNARC effect and a 2D mental rotation task, suggesting that spatial operations are at play in the expression of this effect. We also uncover a significant correlation between the SNARC effect and the distance effect, suggesting that the SNARC is also related to access to number semantics. A multiple regression analysis reveals that the relative contributions of spatial cognition and distance effects represent significant, yet distinct, contributions in explaining variation in the size of the SNARC effect from one individual to the next. Overall, these results shed new light on how the spatial-numerical associations of response codes are influenced by both number semantics and spatial operations.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0095756
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095756
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Zorzi & Konstantinos Priftis & Carlo Umiltà, 2002. "Neglect disrupts the mental number line," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6885), pages 138-139, May.
    2. Danielle Hoffmann & Christophe Mussolin & Romain Martin & Christine Schiltz, 2014. "The Impact of Mathematical Proficiency on the Number-Space Association," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fiona Nemeh & Judi Humberstone & Mark J Yates & Robert A Reeve, 2018. "Non-symbolic magnitudes are represented spatially: Evidence from a non-symbolic SNARC task," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Cheng Quan & Chunyong Li & Jiguo Xue & Jingwei Yue & Chenggang Zhang, 2017. "Mirror-normal difference in the late phase of mental rotation: An ERP study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, September.

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