Processing ordinality and quantity: ERP evidence of separate mechanisms.

摘要: We report an event-related potential (ERP) experiment of ordinal processing exploring the relationship between and numerical information. ERPs were recorded from healthy adults while making ordered/non-ordered judgments on 3 non-symbolic stimuli (arrays dots). Three main variables manipulated: (1) Ordinality (ordered vs. non-ordered groups dots), tapping quick ‘‘gist’’ estimation ordinality. (2) Direction (ascending descending order), symbolic, culturally influenced aspect ordinality, (3) Ratio group dots, basic numerosity Behavioral results showed independent effects for each variable, replicating our previous findings with this paradigm. ERP differentiated three cognitive processes estimating numerosity, direction. This differentiation was found both in terms timing topography: Order associated early scalp parietal lateral occipital positivity (80–130 ms) originating left Middle Temporal Gyrus; ratio a later medial posterior (130–200 ms); direction late widespread right frontal parietotemporal corresponding negativity (300–600 ms). A theoretical model is suggested, stressing ordinal-specific mechanism.