Dynamics and development in number-to-space mapping

Abstract

Young children's estimates of numerical magnitude increase approximately logarithmically with actual magnitude. The conventional interpretation of this finding is that children's estimates reflect an innate logarithmic encoding of number. A recent set of findings, however, suggests that logarithmic number-line estimates emerge via a dynamic encoding mechanism that is sensitive to previously encountered stimuli. Here we examine trial-to-trial changes in logarithmicity of numerosity estimates to test an alternative dynamic model (D-MLLM) with both a strong logarithmic component and a weak response to previous stimuli. In support of D-MLLM, first-trial numerosity estimates in both adults (Study 1, 2, 3, and 4) and children (Study 4) were strongly logarithmic, despite zero previous stimuli. Additionally, although numerosity of a previous trial affected adults’ estimates, the influence of previous numbers always accompanied the logarithmic-to-linear shift predicted by D-MLLM. We conclude that a dynamic encoding mechanism is not necessary for compressive mapping, but sequential effects on response scaling are a possible source of linearity in adults’ numerosity estimation.