Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations
There is a great deal of research describing the close association that exists between numerical and spatial representations, illustrating the SNARC (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Code) effect. This effect signals the spatial mental representation of small numbers to the left and larger...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1130105/full |
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| author | Aitor Calvente Carmen Noguera Carmen Noguera Dolores Álvarez Dolores Álvarez Sergio Fernández Isabel Carmona Isabel Carmona |
| author_facet | Aitor Calvente Carmen Noguera Carmen Noguera Dolores Álvarez Dolores Álvarez Sergio Fernández Isabel Carmona Isabel Carmona |
| author_sort | Aitor Calvente |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a great deal of research describing the close association that exists between numerical and spatial representations, illustrating the SNARC (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Code) effect. This effect signals the spatial mental representation of small numbers to the left and larger numbers to the right, coinciding with the direction of reading and writing. Subsequent research has found a similar spatial representation for other stimuli (e.g., size of objects and animals, and words associated with time). Some of these spatially represented stimuli are social in nature, even suggesting a spatial mental organization of stimuli based on gender (e.g., the upper part of a vertical axis for males and the lower part for females). The aim of the present study was threefold (1) to replicate and extend results on the existence of a mental gender line (as a function of response hand: female-left hand and male-right hand) when responding simply to gender of stimuli; (2) to explore the influence of inhibitory control; and, (3) to determine whether gender-space associations depend on the explicit or implicit nature of a gender task. Three experiments were designed to pursue these objectives. In Experiment 1, female, male and neutral faces and names were displayed, and the participants were asked to identify their gender. Experiment 2, which also included a Stroop task, followed the same procedure as Experiment 1, but displayed objects that could be designated as female or male and others not related to any gender. Finally, in Experiment 3, in which participants were asked to respond to the direction of an arrow, object gender was not relevant to the task. Consistent with previous research and confirming our hypotheses, the results showed a spatial mental representation of the stimuli based on gender in all three experiments, regardless of whether the stimulus was consciously perceived. Moreover, inhibitory ability showed a relationship with the gender-space line effect. The contributions and implications of this study are discussed, as are possible limitations and future lines of research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:54:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eede4ec3e3a44d1f88cd9685d985d52d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:54:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-eede4ec3e3a44d1f88cd9685d985d52d2023-05-17T05:33:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-05-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11301051130105Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associationsAitor Calvente0Carmen Noguera1Carmen Noguera2Dolores Álvarez3Dolores Álvarez4Sergio Fernández5Isabel Carmona6Isabel Carmona7Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainCEINSA, Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almería, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainCEINSA, Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almería, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainCEINSA, Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almería, SpainThere is a great deal of research describing the close association that exists between numerical and spatial representations, illustrating the SNARC (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Code) effect. This effect signals the spatial mental representation of small numbers to the left and larger numbers to the right, coinciding with the direction of reading and writing. Subsequent research has found a similar spatial representation for other stimuli (e.g., size of objects and animals, and words associated with time). Some of these spatially represented stimuli are social in nature, even suggesting a spatial mental organization of stimuli based on gender (e.g., the upper part of a vertical axis for males and the lower part for females). The aim of the present study was threefold (1) to replicate and extend results on the existence of a mental gender line (as a function of response hand: female-left hand and male-right hand) when responding simply to gender of stimuli; (2) to explore the influence of inhibitory control; and, (3) to determine whether gender-space associations depend on the explicit or implicit nature of a gender task. Three experiments were designed to pursue these objectives. In Experiment 1, female, male and neutral faces and names were displayed, and the participants were asked to identify their gender. Experiment 2, which also included a Stroop task, followed the same procedure as Experiment 1, but displayed objects that could be designated as female or male and others not related to any gender. Finally, in Experiment 3, in which participants were asked to respond to the direction of an arrow, object gender was not relevant to the task. Consistent with previous research and confirming our hypotheses, the results showed a spatial mental representation of the stimuli based on gender in all three experiments, regardless of whether the stimulus was consciously perceived. Moreover, inhibitory ability showed a relationship with the gender-space line effect. The contributions and implications of this study are discussed, as are possible limitations and future lines of research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1130105/fullmental representation of genderspatial bias of genderindividual differencescognitive inhibitionconscious/non-conscious perception |
| spellingShingle | Aitor Calvente Carmen Noguera Carmen Noguera Dolores Álvarez Dolores Álvarez Sergio Fernández Isabel Carmona Isabel Carmona Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations Frontiers in Psychology mental representation of gender spatial bias of gender individual differences cognitive inhibition conscious/non-conscious perception |
| title | Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations |
| title_full | Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations |
| title_short | Cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter-individual variability in gender-space associations |
| title_sort | cognitive inhibition abilities explain inter individual variability in gender space associations |
| topic | mental representation of gender spatial bias of gender individual differences cognitive inhibition conscious/non-conscious perception |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1130105/full |
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