@misc{FischerBrugger2011,
  author    = {Fischer, Martin H. and Brugger, Peter},
  title     = {When digits help digits spatial-numerical associations point to finger counting as prime example of embodied cognition},
  series = {Frontiers in psychology},
  volume    = {2},
  journal   = {Frontiers in psychology},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1664-1078},
  doi       = {10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00260},
  pages     = {7},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Spatial numerical associations (SNAs) are prevalent yet their origin is poorly understood. We first consider the possible prime role of reading habits in shaping SNAs and list three observations that argue against a prominent influence of this role: (1) directional reading habits for numbers may conflict with those for non-numerical symbols, (2) short-term experimental manipulations can overrule the impact of decades of reading experience, (3) SNAs predate the acquisition of reading. As a promising alternative, we discuss behavioral, neuroscientific, and neuropsychological evidence in support of finger counting as the most likely initial determinant of SNAs. Implications of this "manumerical cognition" stance for the distinction between grounded, embodied, and situated cognition are discussed.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MiklashevskyLindemannFischer2021,
  author    = {Miklashevsky, Alex and Lindemann, Oliver and Fischer, Martin H.},
  title     = {The force of numbers},
  series = {Frontiers in human neuroscience / Frontiers Research Foundation},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Frontiers in human neuroscience / Frontiers Research Foundation},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1662-5161},
  doi       = {10.3389/fnhum.2020.590508},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {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.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KrauseBekkeringLindemann2013,
  author    = {Krause, Florian and Bekkering, Harold and Lindemann, Oliver},
  title     = {A feeling for numbers shared metric for symbolic and tactile numerosities},
  series = {Frontiers in psychology},
  volume    = {4},
  journal   = {Frontiers in psychology},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1664-1078},
  doi       = {10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00007},
  pages     = {8},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Evidence for an approximate analog system of numbers has been provided by the finding that the comparison of two numerals takes longer and is more error-prone if the semantic distance between the numbers becomes smaller (so-called numerical distance effect). Recent embodied theories suggest that analog number representations are based on previous sensory experiences and constitute therefore a common magnitude metric shared by multiple domains. Here we demonstrate the existence of a cross-modal semantic distance effect between symbolic and tactile numerosities. Participants received tactile stimulations of different amounts of fingers while reading Arabic digits and indicated verbally whether the amount of stimulated fingers was different from the simultaneously presented digit or not. The larger the semantic distance was between the two numerosities, the faster and more accurate participants made their judgments. This cross-modal numerosity distance effect suggests a direct connection between tactile sensations and the concept of numerical magnitude. A second experiment replicated the interaction between symbolic and tactile numerosities and showed that this effect is not modulated by the participants' finger counting habits. Taken together, our data provide novel evidence for a shared metric for symbolic and tactile numerosities as an instance of an embodied representation of numbers.},
  language  = {en}
}