Many theories of numerical cognition assume that numbers and space share a common representation at the response level. For example, observers are faster to respond to small numbers with their left hand and large numbers with their right hand (the SNARC effect). There is also evidence that viewing numbers can produce spatial shifts of attention, suggesting that attention may play a role in the spatial representation of numbers. In the present study, we assessed whether shifts of attention can influence numerical processing. Participants viewed a leftward or rightward peripheral cue followed by a centrally presented number, then judged whether the number was odd or even. Participants responded faster and made fewer errors when the number magnitude and response side were compatible, revealing a response-based SNARC effect. Participants also responded faster when the cue direction and response side were compatible, revealing a Simon effect. However, participants did not respond faster when the cue direction and number magnitude were compatible. Similar findings were observed when the association between numbers and space was relatively explicit. Moreover, although we failed to observe a response-based SNARC effect when number magnitude was directly relevant to observers’ task, we observed a large Simon effect. Together, these findings suggest that although numbers and space share a common representation at the response level, attention does not play a substantial role in the spatial representation of numbers.

许多数字认知理论都假设数字和空间在响应级别上具有相同的表示形式。例如，观察者可以更快地用左手响应小数字，而用右手响应大数字（SNARC效应）。）。还有证据表明，观看数字可能会引起注意力的空间转移，这表明注意力可能在数字的空间表示中起作用。在本研究中，我们评估了注意力转移是否会影响数值处理。参与者查看了向左或向右的外围提示，后跟一个中央显示的数字，然后判断该数字是奇数还是偶数。当数量级和响应端兼容时，参与者的响应速度更快，并且出错更少，从而揭示了基于响应的SNARC效果。当提示方向和响应方兼容时，参与者的响应速度也更快，显示出西蒙效应。但是，当提示方向和数字幅度兼容时，参与者的反应速度并不快。当数字和空间之间的关联相对明确时，也观察到类似的发现。此外，尽管当数量级与观察者的任务直接相关时，我们未能观察到基于响应的SNARC效应，但我们观察到了较大的西蒙效应。总之，这些发现表明，尽管数字和空间在响应级别上具有相同的表示形式，但是注意力在数字的空间表示中并未发挥重要作用。