TY  - JOUR
A1  - Miklashevsky, Alex
A1  - Fischer, Martin H.
A1  - Lindemann, Oliver
T1  - Spatial-numerical associations without a motor response? Grip force says ‘Yes’
JF  - Acta Psychologica
N2  - In numerical processing, the functional role of Spatial-Numerical Associations (SNAs, such as the association of smaller numbers with left space and larger numbers with right space, the Mental Number Line hypothesis) is debated. Most studies demonstrate SNAs with lateralized responses, and there is little evidence that SNAs appear when no response is required. We recorded passive holding grip forces in no-go trials during number processing. In Experiment 1, participants performed a surface numerical decision task (“Is it a number or a letter?”). In Experiment 2, we used a deeper semantic task (“Is this number larger or smaller than five?”). Despite instruction to keep their grip force constant, participants' spontaneous grip force changed in both experiments: Smaller numbers led to larger force increase in the left than in the right hand in the numerical decision task (500–700 ms after stimulus onset). In the semantic task, smaller numbers again led to larger force increase in the left hand, and larger numbers increased the right-hand holding force. This effect appeared earlier (180 ms) and lasted longer (until 580 ms after stimulus onset). This is the first demonstration of SNAs with passive holding force. Our result suggests that (1) explicit motor response is not a prerequisite for SNAs to appear, and (2) the timing and strength of SNAs are task-dependent. (216 words).
KW  - SNARC
KW  - Mental number line
KW  - Number processing
KW  - Embodied cognition
KW  - Grip force
KW  - Motor system
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103791
SN  - 1873-6297
VL  - 231
SP  - 1
EP  - 17
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -