Understanding spatial-numerical association in Hong Kong preschoolers through SNARC effect, number line estimation, and finger-counting training

Abstract

The mental number line (MNL) and spatial–numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect are two major pieces of evidence showing the existence of spatial-numerical association (SNA) in humans. This study investigated the SNA in 99 local preschoolers with an average age of 5.6 years. A 5-session finger-counting training was conducted to teach preschoolers either started counting from their left hand or right hands. Their SNAs were measured through two SNARC tasks and the number line estimation task before and after the training. Results showed that the SNARC effect emerged in local preschoolers from age 6 using a numbermagnitude judgment task. However, no significant correlation was found between the SNARC effect task and number line estimation task. The lack of correlation may be because the former task measures the preliminary form of MNL while the latter measures the mature form of it. Finally, both groups receiving finger-counting training showed significant improvement in their number line estimation tasks. The findings suggest that finger-counting training may be a potential way to improve preschoolers’ number line estimation skills.