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What is a number? The interplay between number and continuous magnitudes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2017

Rosa Rugani ,
Umberto Castiello ,
Konstantinos Priftis ,
Andrea Spoto  and
Luisa Sartori
Rosa Rugani
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italyrosa.rugani@unipd.itumberto.castiello@unipd.itkonstantinos.priftis@unipd.itandrea.spoto@unipd.itluisa.sartori@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/rosa-ruganihttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/umberto-castiello/http://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/konstantinos-priftishttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/luisa-sartori/http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/6DB5058FD70BCB294F3B6A43724D4A02
Umberto Castiello
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italyrosa.rugani@unipd.itumberto.castiello@unipd.itkonstantinos.priftis@unipd.itandrea.spoto@unipd.itluisa.sartori@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/rosa-ruganihttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/umberto-castiello/http://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/konstantinos-priftishttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/luisa-sartori/http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/6DB5058FD70BCB294F3B6A43724D4A02 Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare Beniamino Segre, Accademia dei Lincei, 00165 Rome, Italy
Konstantinos Priftis
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italyrosa.rugani@unipd.itumberto.castiello@unipd.itkonstantinos.priftis@unipd.itandrea.spoto@unipd.itluisa.sartori@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/rosa-ruganihttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/umberto-castiello/http://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/konstantinos-priftishttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/luisa-sartori/http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/6DB5058FD70BCB294F3B6A43724D4A02
Andrea Spoto
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italyrosa.rugani@unipd.itumberto.castiello@unipd.itkonstantinos.priftis@unipd.itandrea.spoto@unipd.itluisa.sartori@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/rosa-ruganihttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/umberto-castiello/http://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/konstantinos-priftishttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/luisa-sartori/http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/6DB5058FD70BCB294F3B6A43724D4A02
Luisa Sartori
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italyrosa.rugani@unipd.itumberto.castiello@unipd.itkonstantinos.priftis@unipd.itandrea.spoto@unipd.itluisa.sartori@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/rosa-ruganihttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/umberto-castiello/http://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/konstantinos-priftishttp://nemolaboratory.com/people/luisa-sartori/http://didattica.unipd.it/offerta/docente/6DB5058FD70BCB294F3B6A43724D4A02 Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Abstract

Leibovich et al. argue that it is impossible to control for all continuous magnitudes in a numerical task. We contend that continuous magnitudes (i.e., perimeter, area, density) can be simultaneously controlled. Furthermore, we argue that shedding light on the interplay between number and continuous magnitudes – rather than considering them independently – will provide a much more fruitful approach to understanding mathematical abilities.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e187
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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