Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, 40700, Ariel, Israel.
Psychol Res. 2022 Mar;86(2):386-403. doi: 10.1007/s00426-021-01515-4. Epub 2021 Apr 11.
Previous research has shown that null numerosity can be processed as a numerical entity that is represented together with non-null numerosities on the same magnitude system. The present study examined which conditions enable perceiving nonsymbolic (i.e., an empty set) and symbolic (i.e., 0) representations of null numerosity as a numerical entity, using distance and end effects. In Experiment 1, participants performed magnitude comparisons of notation homogeneous pairs (both numerosities appeared in nonsymbolic or symbolic format), as well as heterogeneous pairs (a nonsymbolic numerosity versus a symbolic one). Comparisons to 0 resulted in faster responses and an attenuated distance effect in all conditions, whereas comparisons to an empty set produced such effects only in the nonsymbolic and symbolic homogeneous conditions. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants performed same/different numerosity judgments with heterogeneous pairs. A distance effect emerged for "different" judgments of 0 and sets of 1 to 9 dots, but not for those with an empty set versus digits 1-9. These findings indicate that perceiving an empty set, but not 0, as a numerical entity is determined by notation homogeneity and task requirements.
先前的研究表明，零数量可以被视为一个数值实体，与非零数量一起在相同的数量系统中表示。本研究使用距离和端点效应来检验哪些条件可以使人们将非符号（即空集）和符号（即 0）的零数量表示视为一个数值实体。在实验 1 中，参与者对符号同型对（两种数量均以非符号或符号形式出现）以及异型对（非符号数量与符号数量）进行了大小比较。与 0 进行比较会导致在所有条件下更快的反应和减弱的距离效应，而与空集进行比较只会在非符号和符号同型条件下产生这种效应。在实验 2 和 3 中，参与者对异型对进行了相同/不同数量的判断。对于“不同”的 0 和 1 到 9 个点的判断，出现了距离效应，但对于空集与数字 1-9 的判断，则没有出现距离效应。这些发现表明，将空集而不是 0 视为一个数值实体取决于符号同型性和任务要求。
