An ERP Study of Dissociated Mechanisms for Processing Large and Small Numerosities

Abstract

Abstract: Recent studies demonstrated that different mechanisms were used for processing different ranges of numerosities that up to four items. However, the neural signatures of this distinction are not clear. Here we addressed this issue from electrophysiological perspective by using event-related potentials (ERP) technique and numerosity discrimination tasks to measure the ratio effect in small and large number conditions with twenty-one college students. Our results showed that there was a significant difference between the effects of the ratio of stimuli on the P2p amplitude in small and large number conditions in the numerosity discrimination task. These findings support the hypothesis that small numbers are sensed directly, whereas large numbers are likely processed by non-numerical visual attributes.

Key words: large number, small number, numerical ratio effect, ERP

摘要： 大量行为研究表明，个体对4以上非符号数量的加工存在加工机制分离现象，但是相关的神经机制研究还很少。本研究选取21名大学生被试，结合ERP技术和数量判断任务，以数量比率效应为指标，比较4以上不同大小数量加工的神经反应模式。结果显示，大小数量加工条件下数量比率效应对P2p成分幅值的调节模式存在显著差异。这支持了小数量加工基于数量属性，大数量加工基于非数量属性的观点。

关键词: 大数量, 小数量, 数量比率效应, ERP

CLC Number:

B842

SUN Ji, SUN Pei. An ERP Study of Dissociated Mechanisms for Processing Large and Small Numerosities[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(1): 1-7.

孙霁, 孙沛. 大小数量加工机制分离现象的ERP研究[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2021, 19(1): 1-7.

References

刘炜, 王苗, 张智君, 赵亚军. (2016). 数量认知和密度认知的关系. 心理科学进展, 24(6), 885–891
孙霁, 孙沛. (2019). 发展性计算障碍成年人数量加工机制的实验研究. 中国特殊教育, (6), 56–62
张真, 苏彦捷. (2007). 人类数能力的演化基础——数能力比较研究的启示. 心理科学进展, 15(1), 57–63
Anobile, G., Castaldi, E., Turi, M., Tinelli, F., & Burr, D. C. (2016). Numerosity but not texture-density discrimination correlates with math ability in children. Developmental Psychology, 52(8), 1206–1216, doi: 10.1037/dev0000155.
Anobile, G., Cicchini, G. M., & Burr, D. C. (2014). Separate mechanisms for perception of numerosity and density. Psychological Science, 25(1), 265–270, doi: 10.1177/0956797613501520.
Anobile, G., Tomaiuolo, F., Campana, S., & Cicchini, G. M. (2020). Three-systems for visual numerosity: A single case study. Neuropsychologia, 136, 107259, doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107259.
Anobile, G., Turi, M., Cicchini, G. M., & Burr, D. C. (2015). Mechanisms for perception of numerosity or texture-density are governed by crowding-like effects. Journal of Vision, 15(5), 4, doi: 10.1167/15.5.4.
Ansari, D. (2008). Effects of development and enculturation on number representation in the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(4), 278–291, doi: 10.1038/nrn2334.
Brainard, D. H. (1997). The psychophysics toolbox. Spatial Vision, 10(4), 433–436, doi: 10.1163/156856897X00357.
Bugden, S., & Ansari, D. (2011). Individual differences in children’s mathematical competence are related to the intentional but not automatic processing of Arabic numerals. Cognition, 118(1), 32–44, doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2010.09.005.
Butterworth, B., Gallistel, C. R., & Vallortigara, G. (2018). Introduction: The origins of numerical abilities. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1740), 20160507, doi: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0507.
Dehaene, S. (1996). The organization of brain activations in number comparison: Event-related potentials and the additive-factors method. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 8(1), 47–68, doi: 10.1162/jocn.1996.8.1.47.
Dehaene, S., & Cohen, L. (1995). Towards an anatomical and functional model of number processing. Mathematical Cognition, 1, 83–120.
Feigenson, L., Dehaene, S., & Spelke, E. (2004). Core systems of number. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8(7), 307–314, doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2004.05.002.
Fornaciai, M., & Park, J. (2017). Distinct neural signatures for very small and very large numerosities. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 21, doi: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00021.
Gebuis, T., Kadosh, R. C., & Gevers, W. (2016). Sensory-integration system rather than approximate number system underlies numerosity processing: A critical review. Acta Psychologica, 171, 17–35, doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2016.09.003.
Guillaume, M., Gevers, W., & Content, A. (2016). Assessing the approximate number system: no relation between numerical comparison and estimation tasks. Psychological Research, 80(2), 248–258, doi: 10.1007/s00426-015-0657-x.
Haist, F., Wazny, J. H., Toomarian, E., & Adamo, M. (2015). Development of brain systems for nonsymbolic numerosity and the relationship to formal math academic achievement. Human Brain Mapping, 36(2), 804–826, doi: 10.1002/hbm.22666.
Harvey, B. M., & Dumoulin, S. O. (2017). Can responses to basic non-numerical visual features explain neural numerosity responses? NeuroImage, 149, 200–209, doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.012.
Hesse, P. N., Schmitt, C., Klingenhoefer, S., & Bremmer, F. (2017). Preattentive processing of numerical visual information. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 70, doi: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00070.
Hyde, D. C., & Spelke, E. S. (2009). All numbers are not equal: An electrophysiological investigation of small and large number representations. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 21(6), 1039–1053, doi: 10.1162/jocn.2009.21090.
Hyde, D. C., & Spelke, E. S. (2012). Spatiotemporal dynamics of processing nonsymbolic number: An event-related potential source localization study. Human Brain Mapping, 33(9), 2189–2203, doi: 10.1002/hbm.21352.
Jevons, W. S. (1871). The power of numerical discrimination. Nature, 3(67), 281–282, doi: 10.1038/003281a0.
Kadosh, R. C., Kadosh, K. C., Linden, D. E. J., & Gevers, W. (2007). The brain locus of interaction between number and size: A combined functional magnetic resonance Imaging and event-related potential study. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 19(6), 957–970, doi: 10.1162/jocn.2007.19.6.957.
Katzin, N., Katzin, D., Rosén, A., Henik, A., & Salti, M. (2020). Putting the world in mind: The case of mental representation of quantity. Cognition, 195, 104088, doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104088.
Odic, D., & Halberda, J. (2015). Eye movements reveal distinct encoding patterns for number and cumulative surface area in random dot arrays. Journal of Vision, 15(15), 5, doi: 10.1167/15.15.5.
Park, J., DeWind, N. K., Woldorff, M. G., & Brannon, E. M. (2016). Rapid and direct encoding of numerosity in the visual stream. Cerebral Cortex, 26(2), 748–763.
Piazza, M. (2010). Neurocognitive start-up tools for symbolic number representations. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 14(12), 542–551, doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2010.09.008.
Pinel, P., Piazza, M., Le Bihan, D., & Dehaene, S. (2004). Distributed and overlapping cerebral representations of number, size, and luminance during comparative judgments. Neuron, 41(6), 983–993, doi: 10.1016/S0896-6273(04)00107-2.
Pomè, A., Anobile, G., Cicchini, G. M., & Burr, D. C. (2019). Different reaction-times for subitizing, estimation, and texture. Journal of Vision, 19(6), 14, doi: 10.1167/19.6.14.
Pomè, A., Anobile, G., Cicchini, G. M., Scabia, A., & Burr, D. C. (2019). Higher attentional costs for numerosity estimation at high densities. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81(8), 2604–2611, doi: 10.3758/s13414-019-01831-3.
Rubinsten, O., Dana, S., Lavro, D., & Berger, A. (2013). Processing ordinality and quantity: ERP evidence of separate mechanisms. Brain and Cognition, 82(2), 201–212, doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2013.04.008.
Smets, K., Gebuis, T., & Reynvoet, B. (2013). Comparing the neural distance effect derived from the non-symbolic comparison and the same-different task. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 28.
Soltész, F., & Szűcs, D. (2014). Neural adaptation to non-symbolic number and visual shape: An electrophysiological study. Biological Psychology, 103, 203–211, doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.09.006.
Soltész, F., Szűcs, D., Dékány, J., Márkus, A., & Csépe, V. (2007). A combined event-related potential and neuropsychological investigation of developmental dyscalculia. Neuroscience Letters, 417(2), 181–186, doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.02.067.
Zimmermann, E. (2018). Small numbers are sensed directly, high numbers constructed from size and density. Cognition, 173, 1–7, doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2017.12.003.

[1]	JIN Hua, YAN Shizhen, SHAN Jinlei, LIU Ting. The Time Course of the Perception of Animacy: Evidence from ERP [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 577-584.
[2]	ZHONG Weifang, GUO Yongxing. Ability to Recognize Sadness in Ambiguous Facial Expressions Affects Empathy for Pain [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 585-592.
[3]	BAI Jinhua, ZHAO Yufang, JIAN Yue, DENG Qichang. The Influence of Loneliness on the Interpersonal Goal-Pursuit: The Role of Likelihood of Goal Attainment [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(4): 464-471.
[4]	YU Guanlin, ZHANG Lu, GUO Jiayi, ZHANG Wencai. Measuring Interpretation Bias Using Sentence Constructing Task with Chinese Homographs [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 332-338.
[5]	LI Xiaomei, JIANG Yingjie, YU Mingyang, YUAN Yuan, LIU Fangfang. Left-Behind Children’s Psychological Maltreatment and Aggressive Behavior: Chain Mediating Effect of Resilience and Interpersonal Sensitivity [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 353-360.
[6]	ZHANG Zhenghua, ZHANG Hang, WANG Bing, ZHENG Zilong, ZHAO Liming, LI Weijun. The Processing of the Tone and the Vowel in Poems Under Different Tasks: Evidence from ERPs [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(6): 728-735.
[7]	GUO Qingtong, XU Mingxue, XU Chunyan, LIU Xiuli. The Relationship Between University Students’ Dormitory Relationship Disturbance and Mobile Phone Addiction: A Sequential Mediation Model and Gender Differences [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(5): 650-656.
[8]	LI Yunsong, CHEN Qiyang, WU Yan, LI Tianhong, DUAN Rujun. The Dominant Role of Semantic Radicals in Chinese Phonogram Recognition [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(4): 439-446.
[9]	JIA Lei, LU Jiahao, WANG Yi, ZHANG Changjie. Metaphorical Conflict Control in the Conceptual Mapping of Social Power: Processing Characteristic and Stages [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(3): 417-423.
[10]	CHEN Yan, JIANG Ting, LI Wei, CHEN Qulin, PAN Yun, HU Siyao. Differences of Responsibility Comparison and Distribution Evaluation in Cooperation: An ERPs study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(2): 152-159.
[11]	LU Furong, SONG Yujing, LIU Lupei, FANG Xuanzhi. The Effect of Interparental Conflict on Depressive Symptoms of Children and Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(6): 770-776.
[12]	JIANG Yuan, TIAN Li, XUE Lulu. Self-Regulated Learning and Mental Health of Middle School Students: The Role of Academic Control and Interpersonal Relationships [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(6): 798-804.
[13]	ZHAO Junzhe, QIAO Shiqi, WANG Minghui. Impact of Social Media Use on Employee Job Performance in Workplace: Based on the Perspective of Interpersonal Relationship [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(6): 819-825.
[14]	HU Junyan, ZHANG Qingxia, WANG Haifeng. Interpersonal Conflict and Safety Work Behavior: The Multiple Mediation Effects of Anger and Revenge Motivation [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(6): 826-832.
[15]	ZHU Yuchun, ZHANG Shuo, ZHANG Xinhe. The Relationship Between Interparental Conflicts and Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Effect of Adolescents’ Behavioral Response [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(5): 645-651.