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Perceiving numbers causes spatial shifts of attention

Nature Neuroscience volume 6, pages 555–556 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Number symbols are part of our everyday visual world. Here we show that merely looking at numbers causes a shift in covert attention to the left or right side, depending upon the number's magnitude. This observation implies obligatory activation of number meaning and signals a tight coupling of internal and external representations of space.

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Figure 1: Task sequence and reaction time data.

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Acknowledgements

M.H.F. is supported by the British Academy (LRG 31696). A.D.C. and M.D.D. are supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council graduate fellowships. J.P. is supported by NSERC operating and equipment grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland

    Martin H Fischer

  2. Psychology Department, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, M5S 3G3, M5S 3G3, ON, Canada, Canada

    Alan D Castel, Michael D Dodd & Jay Pratt

Authors
  1. Martin H Fischer
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  2. Alan D Castel
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  3. Michael D Dodd
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  4. Jay Pratt
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Correspondence to Martin H Fischer.

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Fischer, M., Castel, A., Dodd, M. et al. Perceiving numbers causes spatial shifts of attention. Nat Neurosci 6, 555–556 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1066

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