Research Article
Number Comparison Under Executive Dual-Task
Authors:
André Vandierendonck
Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, BE
Abstract
Several studies have shown that random interval generation (RIG) interferes with simple mental arithmetic, suggesting that executive processes are involved in simple arithmetic. However, an alternative interpretation would be that RIG calls on quantitative instead of executive processes. The present study explored this possibility. We investigated a typical quantitative effect, the distance effect, under single and dual task. We reasoned that if it is true that both number comparison and RIG are based on quantitative processes, then the distance effect should disappear or at least decrease under dual task. Results showed that the distance effect did not decrease when performed simultaneously with RIG, ruling out this alternative interpretation. Moreover, our data provide additional evidence for the robustness of the distance effect in numerical cognition.
How to Cite:
De Rammelaere, S. and Vandierendonck, A., 2003. Number Comparison Under Executive Dual-Task. Psychologica Belgica, 43(4), pp.259–268. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/pb.1012
Published on
01 Jan 2003.
Peer Reviewed
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