Numerical Affordance Influences Action Execution: A Kinematic Study of Finger Movement

Frontiers in Psychology
Rosa RuganiLuisa Sartori

Abstract

Humans represent symbolic numbers as oriented from left to right: the mental number line (MNL). Up to now, scientific studies have mainly investigated the MNL by means of response times. However, the existing knowledge on the MNL can be advantaged by studies on motor patterns while responding to a number. Cognitive representations, in fact, cannot be fully understood without considering their impact on actions. Here we investigated whether a motor response can be influenced by number processing. Participants seated in front of a little soccer goal. On each trial they were visually presented with a numerical (2, 5, 8) or a non-numerical ($) stimulus. They were instructed to kick a small ball with their right index toward a frontal soccer goal as soon as a stimulus appeared on a screen. However, they had to refrain from kicking when number five was presented (no-go signal). Our main finding is that performing a kicking action after observation of the larger digit proved to be more efficient: the trajectory path was shorter and lower on the surface, velocity peak was anticipated. The smaller number, instead, specifically altered the temporal and spatial aspects of trajectories, leading to more prolonged left deviations. This is th...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1992·Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing·M D'Amico, G Ferrigno
Jan 1, 1991·Experimental Brain Research·L S Jakobson, M A Goodale
Jan 1, 1993·Experimental Brain Research·S Chieffi, M Gentilucci
Jun 1, 1996·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·U Castiello
Jun 17, 1998·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·M Tucker, R Ellis
Jul 20, 1999·Motor Control·J B Smeets, E Brenner
Mar 24, 2000·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·M GentilucciM Gangitano
Sep 12, 2001·Neurology·M H Fischer
Mar 5, 2003·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Margaret Wilson
Oct 31, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Vincent Walsh
Sep 1, 1991·Journal of Motor Behavior·P L WeirM B Frazer
Jun 2, 2005·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Edward M HubbardStanislas Dehaene
Aug 16, 2005·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Umberto Castiello
Jan 20, 2006·Developmental Psychology·Julie L Booth, Robert S Siegler
Mar 10, 2006·Experimental Brain Research·Anne-Marie BrouwerUmberto Castiello
Jul 29, 2006·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Samuel Di LucaMauro Pesenti
Oct 31, 2006·Experimental Brain Research·Daniel Eastough, Martin G Edwards
Feb 7, 2007·Experimental Brain Research·Arnaud BadetsMauro Pesenti
May 22, 2007·Cognition·Joo-Hyun Song, Ken Nakayama
Aug 21, 2007·Annual Review of Psychology·Lawrence W Barsalou
Dec 19, 2007·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·Oliver LindemannHarold Bekkering
Jan 24, 2008·Current Biology : CB·Tobias LoetscherPeter Brugger
Mar 12, 2008·Developmental Psychology·Jemma Catherine Whyte, Rebecca Bull
Apr 5, 2008·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Martin H Fischer
Apr 5, 2008·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Michael AndresTomas Paus
Apr 23, 2008·Experimental Brain Research·Giovanna Moretto, Giuseppe di Pellegrino
May 13, 2008·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Martin H Fischer, Rolf A Zwaan
Dec 20, 2008·Cognition·Maria-Dolores de Hevia, Elizabeth S Spelke
Feb 27, 2009·Experimental Brain Research·Rocco Y-C ChiouDenise H Wu
Jun 3, 2009·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Domenica Bueti, Vincent Walsh
Sep 8, 2010·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Flavia Filimon
May 1, 2005·Cognitive Neuropsychology·Vittorio Gallese, George Lakoff
Sep 6, 2011·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Rocco Y-C ChiouErik C Chang
Dec 29, 2011·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·Matthias HartmannFred W Mast
Apr 27, 2012·PloS One·Maria Dolores de HeviaElizabeth S Spelke
May 9, 2012·Behavioural Brain Research·Maurizio GentilucciAlessandro Innocenti
Jul 18, 2012·Cognitive Processing·Martin H Fischer
Oct 11, 2012·Experimental Psychology·Stéphane GradeMauro Pesenti
Sep 18, 2013·Cognition·Dror Dotan, Stanislas Dehaene
Oct 5, 2013·Experimental Brain Research·Samuel Shaki, Martin H Fischer
Nov 14, 2013·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Gal NamdarTzvi Ganel
Jun 17, 2014·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Thomas J Faulkenberry

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

SPSS
GPower
Matlab
D Tracker
SMART

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.