THE ROLE OF NUMERICAL NOTATION AND TIME INTERVALS IN NUMERICAL PROCESSING

Abstract

Deficits in the ability to interpret information in different forms are linked to poorer mathematical competence and adverse health outcomes. Research on whether numerical processing is dependent on the magnitude of the number or its presentation/notation revealed mixed results, suggesting that numerical processing may lean towards being abstract (based on magnitude) or non-abstract (based on presentation/notation) under certain conditions. Noting an unexplored difference arising from simultaneous and/or sequential presentation, this study explores the extent to which numerical notations (Arabic numerals, number words, non-symbolic magnitude in the form of dot arrays) influence numerical processing at different stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) durations using an audio-visual numerical matching task. Results indicate stronger distance effects and smaller RT differences between notations at larger SOAs and vice versa for smaller SOAs. Interestingly, significant RT differences were found when comparing trials with dots to other notations. The results largely confirm the hypothesis proposed by the triple code model of numerical cognition, with higher reliance on non-abstract numerical processing at shorter SOAs and abstract numerical processing at longer SOAs. It was also found that trials with Arabic numerals had the fastest RT and distance effects were stronger for non-symbolic magnitudes. These findings are instrumental in identifying specific learning difficulties in individuals and the understanding of heuristics in consumer decision-making.