Original Article
How do we process prices? Electrophysiological evidence of componential analysis
Fernando Ojedo,
Pedro Macizo,
Fernando Ojedo
Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Spain
Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Pedro Macizo
Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Spain
Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
Correspondence should be addressed to Pedro Macizo, Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n. 18071, Granada, Spain (email: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorFernando Ojedo,
Pedro Macizo,
Fernando Ojedo
Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Spain
Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Pedro Macizo
Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Spain
Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
Correspondence should be addressed to Pedro Macizo, Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Cartuja, s/n. 18071, Granada, Spain (email: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate if the processing of prices (e.g., 8 euro) involves separate analysis of the digit (8) and the monetary category (euro). Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded when participants performed a price comparison task in which a pair of prices was presented and they selected the one with higher monetary value. There were compatible comparisons where the digit and the monetary category of one price were higher than those of the other price (e.g., 7 euro – 4 cent, 7 > 4 and euro > cent), and incompatible comparisons where the number of one price was larger but the monetary category smaller than those of the other price (e.g., 4 euro – 7 cent, 4 < 7 but euro > cent). Compatibility effect modulated ERPs in the 350–450 ms time window, with more negative amplitudes in incompatible trials relative to compatible trials. This pattern of results suggests that prices were processed in a componential manner, challenging the evidences of the holistic model. The results of this study agree with the general model framework for multi-symbol number comparison: The constituents of a multi-symbol magnitude are processed and compared to each other separately in a componential manner.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| bjop12425-sup-0001-DataS1.docxWord document, 65.7 KB | Data S1. ERP analysis of the magnitude of prices. |
| bjop12425-sup-0002-DataS2.docxWord document, 282.4 KB | Data S2. Grand average ERPs obtained in the study. |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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