Cross-Format Physical Similarity Effects and Their Implications for the Numerical Cognition Architecture

Abstract

The sound |faIv| is visually depicted as a written number word "five" and as an Arabic digit "5." Here, we present four experiments -two quantity same/different experiments and two magnitude comparison experiments -that assess whether auditory number words (|faIv|), written number words ("five"), and Arabic digits ("5") directly activate one another and/or their associated quantity. The quantity same/different experiments reveal that the auditory number words, written number words, and Arabic digits directly activate one another without activating their associated quantity. That is, there are cross-format physical similarity effects but no numerical distance effects. The cross-format magnitude comparison experiments reveal significant effects of both physical similarity and numerical distance. We discuss these results in relation to the architecture of numerical cognition.

Physical Similarity or Numerical Representation Counts in Same–Different, Numerical Comparison, Physical Comparison, and Priming Tasks?

“…Second, we would examine the possible mechanism among the relationship of physical similarity, numerical distance, and participants’ performance. In the study by Cohen et al (2013), the physical similarity was found to be another significant predictor of participants’ performance in addition to the numerical distance in the numerical comparison task; however, it is not clear whether the effect of physical similarity on participants’ performance is mediated by the numerical distance. This question is examined in our study.…”

“…This effect seems to be the primary factor controlling participants’ performance. However, in recent years several studies have identified an alternative perceptual factor to explain participants’ performance (e.g., Cohen, 2009; Cohen, Warren, & Blanc-Goldhammer, 2013; Defever et al, 2012; Garcia-Orza et al, 2012; Wong & Szűcs, 2013). In the seminal study by Cohen (2009), participants were presented with a single Arabic number between 1 and 9 and were asked to decide whether the number presented was 5 or not 5.…”

“…Recently, Cohen et al (2013) have explored the role of physical similarity in the same–different and numerical comparison tasks with Arabic digits, written number words, and auditory numbers words as stimuli. In Experiment 1, they assessed the relative influence of P C and N W in the same–different task.…”

“…First, we sought to clarify whether objective or subjective physical similarity is the primary predictor of participants’ performance in the same–different task as up to this point there have been mixed results regarding this question. Three studies mentioned above showed that objective physical similarity was the primary predictor of participants’ performance (e.g., Cohen, 2009; Cohen et al, 2013; Garcia-Orza et al, 2012) while two studies (Defever et al, 2012; Wong & Szűcs, 2013) found that it is subjective physical similarity that best predicts participants’ performance in the same–different task.…”

“…For the first time, we would test the contribution of physical similarity and numerical distance in physical comparison and priming tasks. In the study by Cohen et al (2013), the role of physical similarity in the numerical comparison task has been explored; however, this study differed from it in two ways (Cohen et al, 2013). First, we would distinguish subjective from objective physical similarity.…”