Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing

The study of numerical magnitude processing provides a unique opportunity to examine interactions between phylogenetically ancient systems of semantic representations and those that are the product of enculturation. While nonsymbolic representations of numerical magnitude are processed similarly by...

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Main Author: Zebian, Samar (author)
Other Authors: Ansari, Daniel (author)
Format: article
Published: 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3545
http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9
http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9
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author Zebian, Samar
author2 Ansari, Daniel
author2_role author
author_facet Zebian, Samar
Ansari, Daniel
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Zebian, Samar
Ansari, Daniel
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2011
2016-04-13T07:52:20Z
2016-04-13T07:52:20Z
2016-04-13
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 1069-9384
http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3545
http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9
Zebian, S., & Ansari, D. (2012). Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 19(1), 93-100.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
dc.rights.*.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description The study of numerical magnitude processing provides a unique opportunity to examine interactions between phylogenetically ancient systems of semantic representations and those that are the product of enculturation. While nonsymbolic representations of numerical magnitude are processed similarly by humans and nonhuman animals, symbolic representations of numerical magnitude (e.g., Hindu–Arabic numerals) are culturally invented symbols that are uniquely human. Here, we report a comparison of symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing in two groups of participants who differ substantially in their level of literacy. In this study, level of literacy is used as an index of level of school-based numeracy skill. The data from these groups demonstrate that while the processing of nonsymbolic numerical magnitude (numerical distance effect) is unaffected by an individual’s level of literacy, the processing of Hindu–Arabic numerals differs between literate and illiterate individuals who live in a literature culture and have limited symbolic recognition skills. These findings reveal that nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing is unaffected by enculturation, while the processing of numerical symbols is modulated by literacy.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
id LAURepo_c4d7d2c2ab64fd371903c52e4ade31b5
identifier_str_mv 1069-9384
Zebian, S., & Ansari, D. (2012). Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 19(1), 93-100.
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str LAURepo
network_name_str Lebanese American University repository
oai_identifier_str oai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/3545
publishDate 2011
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repository.name.fl_str_mv
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spelling Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processingZebian, SamarAnsari, DanielThe study of numerical magnitude processing provides a unique opportunity to examine interactions between phylogenetically ancient systems of semantic representations and those that are the product of enculturation. While nonsymbolic representations of numerical magnitude are processed similarly by humans and nonhuman animals, symbolic representations of numerical magnitude (e.g., Hindu–Arabic numerals) are culturally invented symbols that are uniquely human. Here, we report a comparison of symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing in two groups of participants who differ substantially in their level of literacy. In this study, level of literacy is used as an index of level of school-based numeracy skill. The data from these groups demonstrate that while the processing of nonsymbolic numerical magnitude (numerical distance effect) is unaffected by an individual’s level of literacy, the processing of Hindu–Arabic numerals differs between literate and illiterate individuals who live in a literature culture and have limited symbolic recognition skills. These findings reveal that nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing is unaffected by enculturation, while the processing of numerical symbols is modulated by literacy.PublishedN/A2016-04-13T07:52:20Z2016-04-13T07:52:20Z20112016-04-13Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/article1069-9384http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3545http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9Zebian, S., & Ansari, D. (2012). Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 19(1), 93-100.http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9enPsychonomic Bulletin & Reviewinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/35452016-08-12T07:59:52Z
spellingShingle Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
Zebian, Samar
status_str publishedVersion
title Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
title_full Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
title_fullStr Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
title_full_unstemmed Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
title_short Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
title_sort Differences between literates and illiterates on symbolic but not nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing
url http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3545
http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9
http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-011-0175-9