Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing

The current investigations coordinate math cognition and cultural approaches to numeric thinking to examine the linkages between numeric and spatial processes, and how these linkages are modified by the cultural artifact of writing. Previous research in the adult numeric cognition literature has sho...

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Main Author: Zebian, Samar (author)
Format: article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3541
http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568537054068660
http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568537054068660
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author Zebian, Samar
author_facet Zebian, Samar
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Zebian, Samar
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016-04-13T07:10:59Z
2016-04-13T07:10:59Z
2016-04-13
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 1567-7095
http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3541
http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568537054068660
Zebian, S. (2005). Linkages between number concepts, spatial thinking, and directionality of writing: The SNARC effect and the reverse SNARC effect in English and Arabic monoliterates, biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 5(1), 165-190.
http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568537054068660
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Journal of Cognition and Culture
dc.rights.*.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
The SNARC Effect and the REVERSE SNARC Effect in English and Arabic Monoliterates, Biliterates, and Illiterate Arabic Speakers
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description The current investigations coordinate math cognition and cultural approaches to numeric thinking to examine the linkages between numeric and spatial processes, and how these linkages are modified by the cultural artifact of writing. Previous research in the adult numeric cognition literature has shown that English monoliterates have a spatialised mental number line which is oriented from left-to-right with smaller magnitudes associated with the left side of space and larger magnitudes are associated with the right side of space. These associations between number and space have been termed the Spatial Numeric Association Response Code Effect (SNARC effect, Dehaene, 1992). The current study investigates the spatial orientation of the mental number line in the following groups: English monoliterates, Arabic monoliterates who use only the right-left writing system, Arabic-English biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers who only read numerals. Current results indicate, for the first time, a Reverse SNARC effect for Arabic monoliterates, such that the mental number line had a right-to-left directionality. Furthermore, a weakened Reverse SNARC was observed for Arabic-English biliterates, and no effect was observed among Illiterate Arabic speakers. These findings are especially notable since left-right biases are neurologically supported and are observed in pre-literate children regardless of which writing system is used by adults. The broader implications of how cultural artifacts affect basic numeric cognition will be discussed.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
id LAURepo_b701b0ca5ac5f0c433e38ad03fab3dbe
identifier_str_mv 1567-7095
Zebian, S. (2005). Linkages between number concepts, spatial thinking, and directionality of writing: The SNARC effect and the reverse SNARC effect in English and Arabic monoliterates, biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 5(1), 165-190.
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str LAURepo
network_name_str Lebanese American University repository
oai_identifier_str oai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/3541
publishDate 2016
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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spelling Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of WritingThe SNARC Effect and the REVERSE SNARC Effect in English and Arabic Monoliterates, Biliterates, and Illiterate Arabic SpeakersZebian, SamarThe current investigations coordinate math cognition and cultural approaches to numeric thinking to examine the linkages between numeric and spatial processes, and how these linkages are modified by the cultural artifact of writing. Previous research in the adult numeric cognition literature has shown that English monoliterates have a spatialised mental number line which is oriented from left-to-right with smaller magnitudes associated with the left side of space and larger magnitudes are associated with the right side of space. These associations between number and space have been termed the Spatial Numeric Association Response Code Effect (SNARC effect, Dehaene, 1992). The current study investigates the spatial orientation of the mental number line in the following groups: English monoliterates, Arabic monoliterates who use only the right-left writing system, Arabic-English biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers who only read numerals. Current results indicate, for the first time, a Reverse SNARC effect for Arabic monoliterates, such that the mental number line had a right-to-left directionality. Furthermore, a weakened Reverse SNARC was observed for Arabic-English biliterates, and no effect was observed among Illiterate Arabic speakers. These findings are especially notable since left-right biases are neurologically supported and are observed in pre-literate children regardless of which writing system is used by adults. The broader implications of how cultural artifacts affect basic numeric cognition will be discussed.PublishedN/A2016-04-13T07:10:59Z2016-04-13T07:10:59Z2016-04-13Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/article1567-7095http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3541http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568537054068660Zebian, S. (2005). Linkages between number concepts, spatial thinking, and directionality of writing: The SNARC effect and the reverse SNARC effect in English and Arabic monoliterates, biliterates, and illiterate Arabic speakers. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 5(1), 165-190.http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568537054068660enJournal of Cognition and Cultureinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/35412016-08-31T10:06:07Z
spellingShingle Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
Zebian, Samar
status_str publishedVersion
title Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
title_full Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
title_fullStr Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
title_full_unstemmed Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
title_short Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
title_sort Linkages between Number Concepts, Spatial Thinking, and Directionality of Writing
url http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3541
http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568537054068660
http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/1568537054068660