@article{ShakiFischerGoebel2012,
  author    = {Shaki, Samuel and Fischer, Martin H. and Goebel, Silke M.},
  title     = {Direction counts A comparative study of spatially directional counting biases in cultures with different reading directions},
  series = {Journal of experimental child psychology},
  volume    = {112},
  journal   = {Journal of experimental child psychology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {San Diego},
  issn      = {0022-0965},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jecp.2011.12.005},
  pages     = {275 -- 281},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Western adults associate small numbers with left space and large numbers with right space. Where does this pervasive spatial-numerical association come from? In this study, we first recorded directional counting preferences in adults with different reading experiences (left to right, right to left, mixed, and illiterate) and observed a clear relationship between reading and counting directions. We then recorded directional counting preferences in pre-schoolers and elementary school children from three of these reading cultures (left to right, right to left, and mixed). Culture-specific counting biases existed before reading acquisition in children as young as 3 years and were subsequently modified by early reading experience. Together, our results suggest that both directional counting and scanning activities contribute to number-space associations.},
  language  = {en}
}