The Symbol-Grounding Problem in Numerical Cognition: A Review of Theory, Evidence, and Outstanding Questions.

How do numerical symbols, such as number words, acquire semantic meaning? This question, also referred to as the "symbol-grounding problem," is a central problem in the field of numerical cognition. Present theories suggest that symbols acquire their meaning by being mapped onto an approximate syste...

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Publicado en:Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology / Revue Canadienne de Psychologie Expérimentale Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 12 - 24
Autores principales: Leibovich, Tali, Ansari, Daniel
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Canadian Psychological Association Mar2016
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: The Symbol-Grounding Problem in Numerical Cognition: A Review of Theory, Evidence, and Outstanding Questions.
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        au:
          Leibovich, Tali
          Ansari, Daniel
        affil: University of Western Ontario
      su:
        Cognition
        Semantics
        Signs & symbols
        Magnetic resonance imaging
        Mathematics
        Neuroradiology
        Neuropsychology
        Thought & thinking
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        subj:
          Cognition
          Semantics
          Signs & symbols
          Diagnostic Imaging Centers
          Magnetic resonance imaging
          Mathematics
          Neuroradiology
          Neuropsychology
          Thought & thinking
      keyword:
        approximate number system
        nonnumerical magnitudes
        numerical cognition
        numerical magnitudes
        symbol-grounding problem
        cognition des nombres
        grandeurs non numériques
        grandeurs numériques
        problème du fondement des symboles
        système du nombre approximatif
        approximate number system
        nonnumerical magnitudes
        numerical cognition
        numerical magnitudes
        symbol-grounding problem
        cognition des nombres
        grandeurs non numériques
        grandeurs numériques
        problème du fondement des symboles
        système du nombre approximatif
      ab: How do numerical symbols, such as number words, acquire semantic meaning? This question, also referred to as the "symbol-grounding problem," is a central problem in the field of numerical cognition. Present theories suggest that symbols acquire their meaning by being mapped onto an approximate system for the nonsymbolic representation of number (Approximate Number System or ANS). In the present literature review, we first asked to which extent current behavioural and neuroimaging data support this theory, and second, to which extent the ANS, upon which symbolic numbers are assumed to be grounded, is numerical in nature. We conclude that (a) current evidence that has examined the association between the ANS and number symbols does not support the notion that number symbols are grounded in the ANS and (b) given the strong correlation between numerosity and continuous variables in nonsymbolic number processing tasks, it is next to impossible to measure the pure association between symbolic and nonsymbolic numerosity. Instead, it is clear that significant cognitive control resources are required to disambiguate numerical from continuous variables during nonsymbolic number processing. Thus, if there exists any mapping between the ANS and symbolic number, then this process of association must be mediated by cognitive control. Taken together, we suggest that studying the role of both cognitive control and continuous variables in numerosity comparison tasks will provide a more complete picture of the symbol-grounding problem.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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