The study has two objectives: (1) to introduce grip force recording as a new technique for studying embodied numerical processing; and (2) to demonstrate how three competing accounts of numerical magnitude representation can be tested by using this new technique: the Mental Number Line (MNL), A Theory of Magnitude (ATOM) and Embodied Cognition (finger counting-based) account. While 26 healthy adults processed visually presented single digits in a go/no-go n-back paradigm, their passive holding forces for two small sensors were recorded in both hands. Spontaneous and unconscious grip force changes related to number magnitude occurred in the left hand already 100–140 ms after stimulus presentation and continued systematically. Our results support a two-step model of number processing where an initial stage is related to the automatic activation of all stimulus properties whereas a later stage consists of deeper conscious processing of the stimulus. This interpretation generalizes previous work with linguistic stimuli and elaborates the timeline of embodied cognition. We hope that the use of grip force recording will advance the field of numerical cognition research.

中文翻译：

---

数字的力量：调查体现数字处理的手动签名

该研究有两个目标：（1）引入握力记录作为研究具体数值处理的新技术；(2) 演示如何使用这种新技术测试三个相互竞争的数值幅度表示帐户：心理数线 (MNL)、幅度理论 (ATOM) 和具身认知（基于手指计数）帐户。虽然 26 名健康成年人在通过/不通过 n-back 范式中进行视觉处理，但他们对两个小传感器的被动握持力被记录在双手中。在刺激呈现后 100-140 毫秒，左手已经发生了与数字大小相关的自发和无意识握力变化，并系统地继续。我们的结果支持数字处理的两步模型，其中初始阶段与所有刺激属性的自动激活有关，而后期则包括对刺激的更深层次的有意识处理。这种解释概括了以前的语言刺激工作，并阐述了具身认知的时间线。我们希望握力记录的使用将推动数值认知研究领域的发展。