Spatial representations of magnitude and time: Functional difference between the SNARC and STEARC effect

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26380992
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Ishihara Masami 首都大学東京, 人文科学研究科, 准教授 (60611522)
• Research Collaborator: IMANAKA Kuniyasu 首都大学東京, 人間健康科学研究科, 名誉教授 ; KELLER Peter E. Western Sydney University, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behavior and Development, Professor ; FRICK Andrea University of Fribourg, Department of Psychology, Associate Professor ; MÖHRING Wenke University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Researcher ; ROSSETTI Yves Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Hospices civils de Lyon, Professor ; Lestrel Pete E. UCLA School of Dentistry, Professor Emeritus
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 内的表象 / 運動反応 / 量 / 時間 / 空間 / SNARC / STEARC

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been shown that numeric stimuli (e.g., 1 & 9) have spatial characteristics, and that responses to such stimuli are biased by the mental representation of their magnitude (SNARC effect). Similarly, temporal information (e.g., early & late) also has spatial characteristics, with responses to stimuli being biased by the representation of their onset timing (STEARC effect). Both effects imply the existence of spatial representations of magnitude/time information. The present study investigated the correlation between the SNARC and STEARC to clarify the functional characteristics underlying these effects. The study also investigated whether the magnitude modulated time or vice versa in spatial responses. We measured RTs to a visual target that was experimentally manipulated in its magnitude or in its onset timing. The results replicated the previous findings (“left-to-right” representations of magnitude/time), but these effects appeared to be functionally different from each other.

Free Research Field

実験心理学、運動行動科学