Interaction between numbers and size during visual search

Abstract

The current study investigates an interaction between numbers and physical size (i.e. size congruity) in visual search. In three experiments, participants had to detect a physically large (or small) target item among physically small (or large) distractors in a search task comprising single-digit numbers. The relative numerical size of the digits was varied, such that the target item was either among the numerically large or small numbers in the search display and the relation between numerical and physical size was either congruent or incongruent. Perceptual differences of the stimuli were controlled by a condition in which participants had to search for a differently coloured target item with the same physical size and by the usage of LCD-style numbers that were matched in visual similarity by shape transformations. The results of all three experiments consistently revealed that detecting a physically large target item is significantly faster when the numerical size of the target item is large as well (congruent), compared to when it is small (incongruent). This novel finding of a size congruity effect in visual search demonstrates an interaction between numerical and physical size in an experimental setting beyond typically used binary comparison tasks, and provides important new evidence for the notion of shared cognitive codes for numbers and sensorimotor magnitudes. Theoretical consequences for recent models on attention, magnitude representation and their interactions are discussed.

Two Attributes of Number Meaning

“…The space congruency effect was diminished after a space incongruent trial, but not after a size incongruent trial. The size congruency, however, was merely affected by Previous research suggests that numerical knowledge is associated with space (Dehaene et al, 1993;Hubbard et al, 2005) and magnitude-related information in perception (Henik & Tzelgov, 1982;Krause et al, 2016) and action (Lindemann et al, 2007). Several models of number processing assume that number cardinality is represented by an analogue representation that is subserved by associations between magnitudes, quantities and space (e.g., Dehaene & Brannon, 2011;Hubbard et al, 2005;Umiltà, Priftis, & Zorzi, 2009;Walsh, 2003).…”

“…That is, congruent trials, in which the numerically larger digits is physically larger, are responded to faster than incongruent trials, in which this digit is physically smaller. Size congruity effects in both physical and number classification tasks reflect evidence for a cognitive association between numerical and physical magnitudes (Krause, Pratt, Bekkering, Lindemann, 2016;Schwarz & Heinze, 1998). In addition, the size-congruity effect in physical size classifications has often been used to investigate the automaticity of number magnitude processing (see e.g.…”

The Effects of Physical Attractiveness and Political Affiliation on Facebook Friend Acceptance

“…numerical comparison task is simply a visual search with one target and just one distractor. Later work verified that the SCE occurs in visual search with multiple numerals (Krause, Bekkering, Pratt, & Lindemann, 2017;Sobel & Puri, 2018;Sobel, Puri, & Faulkenberry, 2016); participants can find a target numeral more quickly when its numerical and physical sizes are congruent than when they are incongruent. Although the SCE in visual search has been observed in three different studies, the fact that incongruity between a target's numeri cal and physical size can influence visual search remains surprising.…”

Size and Spatial Congruity Effects in Single-Digit Magnitude Judgment Tasks

“…Nonetheless, some recent evidence for the early interaction model can be found in the context of visual search tasks (Krause, Bekkering, Pratt, & Lindemann, 2017). In this study, the authors engaged participants in visual search in which they were instructed to identify a physically large or small target item amongst a collection of numerically small or large distractors, resulting in congruity amongst both the dimensions of the target (i.e., physical and numerical magnitude) and between the target and distractors.…”

“…In this study, the authors engaged participants in visual search in which they were instructed to identify a physically large or small target item amongst a collection of numerically small or large distractors, resulting in congruity amongst both the dimensions of the target (i.e., physical and numerical magnitude) and between the target and distractors. Krause et al (2017)…”