SNARC Struggles: Instant Control Over Spatial-Numerical Associations (vol 39, pg 1953, 2013)

Numbers and space are tightly linked a phenomenon that is referred to as the spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect (Dehaene, Bossini, & Giraux, 1993). The present study investigates how quickly and flexibly the behavioral impact of such spatial-numerical associations can be controlled. Participants performed a parity judgment task, and we examined how the SNARC effect is influenced by the preceding congruency between the required response and the target number's spatial association. Results indicate that the SNARC effect is reduced instantly after having experienced a number's spatial association to interfere with responding. This sequential modulation indicates a pronounced flexibility of spatial-numerical associations driven by cognitive control mechanisms.