Abstract
One vs. two non-symbolic numerical systems? Looking to the ATOM theory for clues to the mystery
Highlights
Evidence collected in the fields of cognitive, developmental, and comparative psychology supports the idea of two different numerical systems that exist in the absence of language: a precise object tracking system (OTS) for small numbers—which is supposed to support the accurate enumeration of small sets (≤4) without serial counting—and an approximate number system (ANS) for larger numbers based on analog magnitudes
To explain the inconsistency reported in the literature, Hyde hypothesized that the ANS may be recruited to represent small numbers and that the limits of attentional resources and working memory would play a key role in determining which of the two systems would be employed in the small number range
As a control test showed that the two groups did not differ in attention and working memory, the activation of the ANS in the subitizing range seems to be due to the different levels of expertise
Summary
To explain the inconsistency reported in the literature, Hyde hypothesized that the ANS may be recruited to represent small numbers and that the limits of attentional resources and working memory would play a key role in determining which of the two systems would be employed in the small number range. Experts in one domain (i.e., time estimation) should exhibit better performance in tasks that are not directly related to their domain of expertise (i.e., spatial or numerical estimation) given the existence of a singular cognitive system applied to these three magnitudes.
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