Abstract
To understand negative numbers, must we refer to positive number representations (the phylogenetic hypothesis), or do we acquire a negative mental number line (the ontogenetic hypothesis)? In the experiment reported here, participants made lateralized button responses to indicate the larger of two digits from the range -9 to 9. Digit pairs were displayed spatially congruent or incongruent with either a phylogenetic or an ontogenetic mental number line. The pattern of decision latencies suggests that negative numbers become associated with left space, thus supporting the ontogenetic view.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 278-282 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Psychological Science |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |