In this study, we evaluated whether the processing of two-digit Arabic numbers is subject to cognitive control. Participants performed a number comparison task with unit-decade compatible trials (36-47) and unit-decade incompatible number pairs (37-46). The unit-decade compatibility (incompatible minus compatible trials) was considered an index of conflict situation in numerical processing. To examine whether participants adapted to numerical conflict, we manipulated the percentage of incompatible trials relative to the percentage of compatible trials (20, 50, 80 % incompatible trials). The unit-decade compatibility effect was modulated by the amount of incompatible trials: the compatibility effect decreased progressively as the percentage of incompatible trials increased. This result indicated that participants adapted to numerical conflict. The findings are discussed in terms of cognitive control. Implications for models of two-digit number processing are also addressed.
It is widely agreed that word numerals are processed similar to other words, and, thus, they can be named without semantic mediation. However, there is no consensus about Arabic digits. Although digits seem to have a preferential link to magnitude representation, there is some evidence indicating a possible asemantic route to access phonological information. In the present study, we used a semantic blocking paradigm to explore this question. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to name digits and pictures or numeral words and name of objects in a semantic blocked context and in a mixed context. For both types of numerical notation we found facilitation in the blocked condition relative to the mixed condition. In Experiment 2, participants named two-digit numbers in a blocked condition (short numerical distance) or in a mixed condition (large numerical distance). Again, facilitation was found for the blocked condition relative to the mixed condition. This pattern of results seems to indicate that Arabic digits, like number words, might be named through an asemantic route.
This study explores the possibility of cross-language activation when bilinguals process number words in their first language (Italian) and their second language (German). Italian monolinguals (Experiment 1), German monolinguals (Experiment 2), and Italian/German bilinguals (Experiment 3) were required to decide the larger of two number words while the unit–decade compatibility effect was examined. For compatible trials the decade and unit comparisons lead to the same response (e.g., 24–67), whereas for incompatible trials the decade and unit comparisons lead to different responses (e.g., 27–64). The regular unit–decade compatibility effect was significant when bilinguals and monolinguals performed the comparison in German. However, this effect was not found when bilinguals and monolinguals performed the task in Italian. In addition, the decade distance played a major role when bilinguals processed in their first language, whereas the unit distance was more important when they worked in their second language. These results indicate that the processing of number words in one language is not modulated by the way bilinguals process number words in their alternative language
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