Direction counts: a comparative study of spatially directional counting biases in cultures with different reading directions

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Samuel ShakiSilke M Göbel

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 preschoolers 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.

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Citations

May 8, 2014·PloS One·Maria Dolores de HeviaViola Macchi Cassia
Jan 30, 2014·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Hila Hochman CohenAvishai Henik
Jan 18, 2014·Cognitive Processing·Mirjam WasnerHans-Christoph Nuerk
Aug 16, 2016·Pediatric Neurology·Isabelle Rapin
Dec 17, 2014·Cognition·Korbinian MoellerHans-Christoph Nuerk
Oct 20, 2014·Psychological Research·Birgit KnudsenGisa Aschersleben
Sep 15, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Bodo WinterMartin H Fischer
Jul 18, 2015·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Luca RinaldiZaira Cattaneo
Aug 1, 2015·Cognitive Processing·Silke M GöbelSamuel Shaki
Dec 20, 2013·Experimental Psychology·Mirjam EbersbachLieven Verschaffel
May 16, 2015·Cognitive Processing·Chi-Ngai Cheung, Stella F Lourenco
Mar 4, 2015·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Carolyn Parkinson, Thalia Wheatley
Sep 24, 2013·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Danielle HoffmannChristine Schiltz
May 27, 2014·Frontiers in Psychology·Katarzyna PatroMaciej Haman
Sep 16, 2014·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Arnaud BadetsMauro Pesenti
Feb 20, 2014·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Tanja LinkKorbinian Moeller
Jul 23, 2014·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Martin H Fischer, Samuel Shaki
Mar 10, 2015·PloS One·Koleen McCrink, Jennifer Galamba
Jul 15, 2015·Current Directions in Psychological Science·Koleen McCrink, John E Opfer
Apr 2, 2019·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Stefan Buijsman, Carlos Tirado
Apr 30, 2020·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Krzysztof CiporaHans-Christoph Nuerk
Nov 20, 2016·Cognitive Science·Katarzyna Patro, Hans-Christoph Nuerk
Mar 16, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Charlotte SossonChristine Schiltz
May 12, 2018·Developmental Science·Katharine A TillmanDavid Barner
Aug 5, 2018·Scientific Reports·Filomena AnelliShahar Arzy
Aug 30, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Seda DuralHakan Çetinkaya
Jul 14, 2017·Infant and Child Development·Jaccoline E van 't NoordendeEvelyn H Kroesbergen
Jan 31, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Martin H Fischer
Mar 20, 2019·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Alessandro Guida, Guillermo Campitelli
Jun 20, 2018·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Martin H Fischer, Samuel Shaki
Jun 20, 2018·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Antonio RománJulio Santiago
Jul 28, 2020·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Alessandro GuidaFabien Mathy
Jun 6, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Catherine ThevenotJeanne Bagnoud
Jul 18, 2020·Psychological Research·Samuel Shaki, Martin H Fischer
Aug 3, 2019·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Elizabeth A GundersonVictoria Bartek
Sep 3, 2017·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Silke M GöbelSamuel Shaki
May 7, 2021·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Sarah M CooneyFiona N Newell
Sep 24, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Hendrikje SchmidtMartin H Fischer

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