The SNARC Effect as a Tool to Examine Crosstalk during Numerical Processing in a PRP paradigm

• Author / Creator

  Tan, Shawn

• The phenomenon where small numbers produce faster left than right responses and large numbers produce faster right than left responses (The SNARC effect) has been used as evidence for obligatory activations of magnitude. In two experiments, I used the SNARC effect to examine crosstalk using a psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm. In Experiment 1, subjects made a parity judgment to the second number, while ignoring the first number in session 1 or performing a magnitude judgment on the number in session 2. In Experiment 2, subjects performed a magnitude judgment on the second number. They ignored the first number in session 1 or performed a parity judgment on the number in session 2. The results supported two conclusions. First, presentation of a number produced obligatory representations of magnitude even if the number was to be ignored. Second, early representations of magnitude resulted in crosstalk on processing of the subsequent number.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • SNARC effect
  • PRP
  • Crosstalk
  • Numerical processing

• Graduation date

  Spring 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R31D8B

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.