Eye-Tracking Evidence for the SNARC Effect: Unveiling Attentional Stages
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/fd6be159Keywords:
SNARC Effect, Numerical Cognition, Spatial-numerical Association, Eye-trackingAbstract
The Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect, which involves the conjunction of spatial and numerical response coding, was initially identified through reaction time experiments involving numerical stimuli. Research has revealed a common tendency among individuals to associate smaller numbers with the left side and larger numbers with the right side. Furthermore, scholars have identified additional dimensions, such as the “up-down” and “near-far” associations, that contribute to the complexity of the SNARC effect. However, the universality of the SNARC effect and the underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms continue to be a topic of debate within the academic community. Various studies have proposed a range of interpretations and understandings of this effect. The present study delves into the cognitive mechanisms of the SNARC effect, employing eye-tracking technology to objectively quantify participants’ responses. Utilizing the parity judgment task, a method frequently employed in SNARC effect research, in conjunction with eye-tracking, participants were instructed to judge the parity of numerical stimuli while directing their gaze to the left or right, and above or below the numbers as per the experimental requirements. Colored blocks were positioned around the numbers to serve as visual anchors, indicating the spatial directions of left/right and top/down. Data analysis revealed that when smaller numbers (1-4) were presented, participants exhibited a tendency to focus on the left color block adjacent to the number, characterized by a higher Total Fixation Duration (TFD) and a shorter Time to First Fixation (TFF). In contrast, when larger numbers (6-9) appeared, participants were more likely to focus on the right color block, indicating the presence of a SNARC effect in the horizontal dimension. However, no significant effect was observed in the vertical dimension. Additionally, this study innovatively employed a blank page in conjunction with a test page to differentiate between the early and late stages of participants’ attentional processing. The examination of TFF and TFD data uncovered a two-stage processing mechanism associated with the SNARC effect. This experimental approach and methodological framework offer novel perspectives that contribute to the advancement of research in this domain.
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