Cortical quantity representations of visual numerosity and timing overlap increasingly into superior cortices but remain distinct

Magnitude processing and integration entail perceptual processes independent from the task

“…In support of such a perceptual account of magnitude integration, we have recently shown that the effect relies on a mechanism similar to perceptual binding, inducing a positive bias across dimensions only when they are conveyed by the same stimulus (i.e., as opposed to magnitudes conveyed by separate, superimposed stimuli; . Recent neuroimaging studies, however, albeit showing common neural substrates, failed to provide evidence for a shared neural code (Borghesani et al, 2019;Hendrikx et al, 2024;Tsouli et al, 2022). According to the metaphor theory, on the other hand, the effect would instead arise at the conceptual or linguistic level, due to the use of "spatial" concepts to describe time (e.g., a "long" time; Bottini & Casasanto, 2013;Casasanto & Boroditsky, 2008; but see Whitaker et al, 2022).…”

“…Cai et al, 2021;Fortunato et al, 2023;Harvey et al, 2013Harvey et al, , 2015Harvey & Dumoulin, 2017;Hendrikx et al, 2024;Protopapa et al, 2019). Recently, it has indeed been proposed that the interaction between different magnitudes could arise from the overlap of neural populations sensitive to different dimensions (Hendrikx et al, 2024;Tsouli et al, 2022), without the need for a centralised mechanism or a common magnitude neural code (Walsh, 2003).…”

“…On the one hand, according to ATOM, the interaction would occur in perceptual processing due to the encoding of different dimensions with a common neural code (Walsh, 2003). Recent neuroimaging studies, however, albeit showing common neural substrates failed to provide evidence for a shared neural code (Borghesani et al, 2019;Hendrikx et al, 2024;Tsouli et al, 2022). According to the metaphor theory, on the other hand, the effect would instead arise at the conceptual or linguistic level, due to the use of "spatial" concepts to describe time (e.g., a "long" time; Bottini & Casasanto, 2013;Casasanto & Boroditsky, 2008; but see Whitaker et al, 2022).…”

“…While evidence has now been accumulated against a linguistic/conceptual view of magnitude integration (Cai & Connell, 2015;Whitaker et al, 2022), other theories have proposed that magnitudes interact at a more cognitive rather than perceptual level, as a working memory interference (Z. G. Cai et al, 2018), or as a response bias (Yates et al, 2012). Finally, more in line with a perceptual interpretation of the integration effect, it has been recently proposed (Hendrikx et al, 2024;Tsouli et al, 2022) that the interaction could arise from the processing of different dimensions in partially overlapping cortical maps (Fortunato et al, 2023;Harvey et al, 2013Harvey et al, , 2015Hendrikx et al, 2022Hendrikx et al, , 2024Protopapa et al, 2019), but without involving a common neural code.…”

“…In both these cases, the interference would not affect how magnitudes are perceived, but only their memory traces or the way they are judged. Finally, based on neuroimaging data, it has been recently proposed (Hendrikx et al, 2024;Tsouli et al, 2022) that the interaction could arise from the processing of different dimensions in partially overlapping cortical maps, but without involving a common neural code (Fortunato et al, 2023;Harvey et al, 2013Harvey et al, , 2015Hendrikx et al, 2022Hendrikx et al, , 2024Protopapa et al, 2019).…”