TY  - JOUR
A1  - Miklashevsky, Alex
A1  - Lindemann, Oliver
A1  - Fischer, Martin H.
T1  - The force of numbers
T2  - Frontiers in human neuroscience / Frontiers Research Foundation
N2  - The study has two objectives: (1) to introduce grip force recording as a new technique for studying embodied numerical processing; and (2) to demonstrate how three competing accounts of numerical magnitude representation can be tested by using this new technique: the Mental Number Line (MNL), A Theory of Magnitude (ATOM) and Embodied Cognition (finger counting-based) account. While 26 healthy adults processed visually presented single digits in a go/no-go n-back paradigm, their passive holding forces for two small sensors were recorded in both hands. Spontaneous and unconscious grip force changes related to number magnitude occurred in the left hand already 100-140 ms after stimulus presentation and continued systematically. Our results support a two-step model of number processing where an initial stage is related to the automatic activation of all stimulus properties whereas a later stage consists of deeper conscious processing of the stimulus. This interpretation generalizes previous work with linguistic stimuli and elaborates the timeline of embodied cognition. We hope that the use of grip force recording will advance the field of numerical cognition research.
KW  - ATOM
KW  - embodied cognition
KW  - finger counting
KW  - grip force
KW  - mental number
KW  - line
KW  - number processing
KW  - numerical cognition
Y1  - 2021
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/59692
SN  - 1662-5161
VL  - 14
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  -