How to cook a SNARC: Number placement in text rapidly changes spatial-numerical associations

Martin H. Fischer; Richard A. Mills; Samuel Shaki

doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.010

How to cook a SNARC: Number placement in text rapidly changes spatial-numerical associations

Martin H. Fischer, Richard A. Mills, Samuel Shaki

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

137 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most theoreticians believe that reading habits explain why Western adults associate small numbers with left space and large numbers with right space (the SNARC effect). We challenge this belief by documenting, in both English and Hebrew, that SNARC changes during reading: small and large numbers it. our texts appeared near the left or right ends of the lines, positioned either spatially congruent or incongruent with reading habits. In English, the congruent group showed reliable SNARC before and after reading and the incongruent group's SNARC was significantly reduced. In Hebrew the incongruent reading condition even induced a reverse SNARC. These results show that SNARC is a fleeting aspect of number representation that captures multiple spatial associations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	333-336
Number of pages	4
Journal	Brain and Cognition
Volume	72
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.010
Publication status	Published - Apr 2010

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10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.010

137 Citations
1 Poster
1 Meeting abstract

How to cook a SNARC: number placement in text changes spatial-numerical associations
Fischer, M. & Mills, R., 2008, In: International Journal of Psychology (IJP). 43, 3-4, p. 672-672 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting abstract › peer-review
How to cook a SNARC: number placement in text changes spatial-numerical associations
Fischer, M. & Mills, R., 2008.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

Cite this

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title = "How to cook a SNARC: Number placement in text rapidly changes spatial-numerical associations",

abstract = "Most theoreticians believe that reading habits explain why Western adults associate small numbers with left space and large numbers with right space (the SNARC effect). We challenge this belief by documenting, in both English and Hebrew, that SNARC changes during reading: small and large numbers it. our texts appeared near the left or right ends of the lines, positioned either spatially congruent or incongruent with reading habits. In English, the congruent group showed reliable SNARC before and after reading and the incongruent group's SNARC was significantly reduced. In Hebrew the incongruent reading condition even induced a reverse SNARC. These results show that SNARC is a fleeting aspect of number representation that captures multiple spatial associations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",

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T2 - Number placement in text rapidly changes spatial-numerical associations

AU - Fischer, Martin H.

AU - Mills, Richard A.

AU - Shaki, Samuel

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N2 - Most theoreticians believe that reading habits explain why Western adults associate small numbers with left space and large numbers with right space (the SNARC effect). We challenge this belief by documenting, in both English and Hebrew, that SNARC changes during reading: small and large numbers it. our texts appeared near the left or right ends of the lines, positioned either spatially congruent or incongruent with reading habits. In English, the congruent group showed reliable SNARC before and after reading and the incongruent group's SNARC was significantly reduced. In Hebrew the incongruent reading condition even induced a reverse SNARC. These results show that SNARC is a fleeting aspect of number representation that captures multiple spatial associations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AB - Most theoreticians believe that reading habits explain why Western adults associate small numbers with left space and large numbers with right space (the SNARC effect). We challenge this belief by documenting, in both English and Hebrew, that SNARC changes during reading: small and large numbers it. our texts appeared near the left or right ends of the lines, positioned either spatially congruent or incongruent with reading habits. In English, the congruent group showed reliable SNARC before and after reading and the incongruent group's SNARC was significantly reduced. In Hebrew the incongruent reading condition even induced a reverse SNARC. These results show that SNARC is a fleeting aspect of number representation that captures multiple spatial associations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.010

DO - 10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.010

M3 - Article

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SN - 0278-2626

VL - 72

SP - 333

EP - 336

JO - Brain and Cognition

JF - Brain and Cognition

IS - 3

ER -

How to cook a SNARC: Number placement in text rapidly changes spatial-numerical associations

Abstract

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How to cook a SNARC: number placement in text changes spatial-numerical associations

How to cook a SNARC: number placement in text changes spatial-numerical associations

Cite this