When digits help digits: spatial-numerical associations point to finger counting as prime example of embodied cognition

Abstract

Spatial-numerical associations (SNAs) are prevalent yet their origin is poorly understood. We first consider the possible prime role of reading habits in shaping SNAs and list three observations that argue against a prominent influence of this role: (1) directional reading habits for numbers may conflict with those for non-numerical symbols, (2) short-term experimental manipulations can overrule the impact of decades of reading experience, (3) SNAs predate the acquisition of reading. As a promising alternative, we discuss behavioral, neuroscientific, and neuropsychological evidence in support of finger counting as the most likely initial determinant of SNAs. Implications of this "manumerical cognition" stance for the distinction between grounded, embodied, and situated cognition are discussed.

Keywords: embodied cognition; finger counting; numerical cognition.

Figure 1

Cumulative number of publications found in Web of Knowledge on July 2, 2011, using as search terms (a) TS = (“embodied cognition”) or TS = (“embodied process*”); (b) TS = (“finger count*”); (c) TS = (“num* cognition” or “num* process*”).

Figure 2

Change in SNAs of Hebrew and English participants reading cooking recipes with different number magnitudes at the beginning and end of each line. Change was measured per regression slopes calculated from number classification speed in the parity task before vs. after reading. In both languages only the incongruent SNA (large number at sentence start) induced a change. Arrows above text excerpts indicate reading direction. Adapted from Fischer et al. (2010).

Figure 3

Illustration of the hierarchical relationship of grounded, embodied, and situated cognition in the numerical domain.