Fractions as percepts? Exploring cross-format distance effects for fractional magnitudes

Cognitive Psychology
Percival G Matthews, Dana L Chesney

Abstract

This study presents evidence that humans have intuitive, perceptually based access to the abstract fraction magnitudes instantiated by nonsymbolic ratio stimuli. Moreover, it shows these perceptually accessed magnitudes can be easily compared with symbolically represented fractions. In cross-format comparisons, participants picked the larger of two ratios. Ratios were presented either symbolically as fractions or nonsymbolically as paired dot arrays or as paired circles. Response patterns were consistent with participants comparing specific analog fractional magnitudes independently of the particular formats in which they were presented. These results pose a challenge to accounts that argue human cognitive architecture is ill-suited for processing fractions. Instead, it seems that humans can process nonsymbolic ratio magnitudes via perceptual routes and without recourse to conscious symbolic algorithms, analogous to the processing of whole number magnitudes. These findings have important implications for theories regarding the nature of human number sense - they imply that fractions may in some sense be natural numbers, too.

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Citations

Oct 22, 2016·Cognitive Science·Percival G Matthews, Mark R Lewis
Dec 30, 2015·Psychological Science·Percival G MatthewsEdward M Hubbard
Feb 10, 2019·Child Development·Shaun O'Grady, Fei Xu
May 12, 2018·Behavioral and Brain Functions : BBF·Julia MockKorbinian Moeller
Feb 24, 2017·Developmental Science·David W Braithwaite, Robert S Siegler
Nov 6, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Dana L Chesney, Percival G Matthews
Jan 1, 2018·Journal of Numerical Cognition·Percival G Matthews, Amy B Ellis
Jan 19, 2018·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Pooja G SidneyEdward M Hubbard
Aug 26, 2019·Cognitive Science·Rui MengElizabeth Y Toomarian
Feb 23, 2020·Cognition·John V Binzak, Edward M Hubbard

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