Task instructions determine the visuospatial and verbal–spatial nature of number–space associations

Evidence for number–space associations comes from the spatial–numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large digits with the left/right hand, respectively. Two different proposals are commonly discussed concerning the cognitive origin of the SNARC effect: the visuospatial account and the verbal–spatial account. Recent studies have provided evidence for the relative dominance of verbal–spatial over visuospatial coding mechanisms, when both mechanisms were directly contrasted in a magnitude comparison task. However, in these studies, participants were potentially biased towards verbal–spatial number processing by task instructions based on verbal–spatial labels. To overcome this confound and to investigate whether verbal–spatial coding mechanisms are predominantly activated irrespective of task instructions, we completed the previously used paradigm by adding a spatial instruction condition. In line with earlier findings, we could confirm the predominance of verbal–spatial number coding under verbal task instructions. However, in the spatial instruction condition, both verbal–spatial and visuospatial mechanisms were activated to an equal extent. Hence, these findings clearly indicate that the cognitive origin of number–space associations does not always predominantly rely on verbal–spatial processing mechanisms, but that the spatial code associated with numbers is context dependent.     

Synesthesia Affects Verification of Simple Arithmetic Equations

To investigate the effects of color–digit synesthesia on numerical representation, we presented a synesthete, called SE, in the present study, and controls with mathematical equations for verification. In Experiment 1, SE verified addition equations made up of digits that either matched or mismatched her color–digit photisms or were in black. In Experiment 2A, the addends were presented in the different color conditions and the solution was presented in black, whereas in Experiment 2B the addends were presented in black and the solutions were presented in the different color conditions. In Experiment 3, multiplication and division equations were presented in the same color conditions as in Experiment 1. SE responded significantly faster to equations that matched her photisms than to those that did not; controls did not show this effect. These results suggest that photisms influence the processing of digits in arithmetic verification, replicating and extending previous findings.     

A critique of Vihvelin's Three-fold Classification

In this essay, I argue for the rejection of Vihvelin's ‘Three-fold Classification’ (3-FC), a nonstandard taxonomy of free-will compatibilism, incompatibilism, and impossibilism. Vihvelin is right that the standard taxonomy of these views is inadequate, and that a new taxonomy is needed to clarify the free-will debate. Significantly, Vihvelin notes that the standard formal definition of ‘incompatibilism’ does not capture the historically popular view that deterministic laws pose a threat to free will. Vihvelin's proposed solution is to redefine ‘incompatibilism.’ However, Vihvelin's formal definition of ‘incompatibilism’ is flawed according to her own arguments. In addition, Vihvelin's characterization of ‘compatibilism’ is (at best) incomplete, and at least two important free-will views are missing from her proposed taxonomy. Given the problems with Vihvelin's arguments for 3-FC, her novel view of the dialectic between the major free-will views lacks support.     

负数的空间表征引起的空间注意转移

本研究采用数字线索提示的刺激探测任务, 通过三个实验探讨负数的低水平加工能否,以及怎样引起空间注意的转移。实验一探讨只有负数单独呈现作为线索时能否引起空间注意的转移。结果表明：对负数绝对值大小的加工能引起空间注意的转移。实验二进一步探讨在正数、负数和零混合作为线索时能否引起空间注意的转移。结果表明：对负数数量大小的加工能引起空间注意的转移。实验三再次用正数, 负数和0三种数字混合作为探测刺激前的线索, 但仅对负数和零作为提示线索之后的探测刺激进行反应, 又一次得到了由有效提示线索所引发的对数字数量大小加工引起的空间注意的转移。本研究表明, 对负数的低水平加工可以引起空间注意的转移, 然而, 是对绝对值的加工还是数量大小的加工引起注意转移依赖于共同参与的其它数字加工产生的影响。     

哲学视域中战国楚竹书《周易》的文献价值

上海博物馆所藏楚竹书<周易>见证了数字式爻题的早已存在,与其他传本的<周易>爻题一样,充分蕴示了卦所潜涵的繁复无尽的变动不居之流变情状及卦与卦间所潜涵的同样繁复无尽的流变互通情状,由此而充分符示了宇宙人生中两大类势力互动格局繁复无尽的变动不居之流变图景与诸格局间同样繁复无尽的流变互通图景.楚竹书<周易>的卦爻画已是完全符号化了的卦爻画,但符号化的卦爻画于西周时期<周易>古经成书时当已存在,这种卦爻画乃是易学成为具有自身特有话语系统的高度哲学性的天人之学的根基.残存的楚竹书<周易>卦名后与上爻之辞终了后的奇特符号标识,昭示了卦与物事的极而必反、覆而相通之理,但尚难解读出经文分篇方面的信息.