Paying attention to attention: evidence for an attentional contribution to the size congruity effect

Paying attention to attention: evidence for an attentional contribution to the size congruity effect

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Title:

Paying attention to attention: evidence for an attentional contribution to the size congruity effect

Authors:

Evan F. Risko, Erin A. Maloney, & Jonathan A. Fugelsang (2013)

Journal and DOI:

Attention Perception and Psychophysics (2013) 75:1137–1147 DOI 10.3758/s13414-013-0477-2

Previous Research:

Previous research demonstrates that when asked to select the numerically larger (or smaller) number, the physical size of numbers can influence response time and accuracy. Although there is no relation between physical size and the numeric value, manipulating the physical size of numbers leads to more errors (e.g., ‘5 or 7’). This phenomenon is known as the size congruity effect.

What did we ask? The standard theory suggests that our brain confuses physically larger numbers as signifying greater quantity, leading to errors in the number comparison task. However, we propose that attention (i.e., which number is processed first) also plays a significant role in this phenomenon.

How did we ask it? Participants completed a number comparison task. We manipulated the size of numbers and the order in which they were presented. We used three different conditions:

1. We presented the physically smaller number first and the physically larger number 100 milliseconds (ms) later;
2. We presented the physically larger number first and the physically smaller number 100ms later;
3. We presented both digits at the same time.

What did we find?

• Errors in the number comparison task were reduced when the physically smaller number was presented first (as in condition 1).
• Similar number of errors between the second (i.e., physically larger number first) and third conditions (i.e., both digits simultaneously).
• Attention first shifts towards the physically larger number when both are presented simultaneously.

Why is this important? These findings suggest that attention plays a significant role in the size congruity effect. In other words, errors in the number comparison task not only stem from confusion between physical and numerical size, but also from the increased attention we devote to physically larger numbers. These findings provide a foundation for future research exploring the role of attention in number comparison tasks.

Brought to you by Dr. Erin Maloney’s Cognition and Emotion Lab at the University of Ottawa.