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Category: Project

Description: The SNARC effect is demonstrated by the presentation of a number and a magnitude judgement, with results showing quicker responses with the left hand when number is lower, and quicker responses with the right hand when the number is high (Dehaene 1992). While the effect has also been demonstrated in the vertical axis, few research has tested the sagittal axis. Participants were seated at a table, wearing a head-mounted VR display, and with a response box aligned to the sagittal axis, with near and far buttons. Numerical stimuli were presented in a 3D virtual environment, and participants judged if the number (1-4, 6-9) was greater or lower than five. In the experiment, the near-far buttons were associated to low-high responses for half of the trials, and vice versa for the other trials. Participants pressed a starting button and released the button when the number was displayed in VR. This allowed measurement of preparation time (between stimulus presentation and response initiation) and action time (between response initiation and near-far button response). We predicted an interaction between number magnitude and the position of the button (near-far). The results showed a significant interaction for preparation time, but no interaction for action time. For preparation time, responses to the near button were quicker with low than high numbers, and responses to the far button were quicker with high than low numbers. These data replicate the SNARC effect, but for the sagittal axis, and furthermore, explain that the SNARC effect particularly influence preparation time.