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The contribution of fish studies to the “number sense” debate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2017

Christian Agrillo  and
Angelo Bisazza
Christian Agrillo
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, [email protected]@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/christian-agrillohttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/angelo-bisazza
Angelo Bisazza
Affiliation:
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, [email protected]@unipd.ithttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/christian-agrillohttp://www.dpg.unipd.it/en/angelo-bisazza
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Abstract

Leibovich et al. propose that number sense is not innate but gradually emergent during ontogeny following experience. We argue that this hypothesis cannot be reasonably tested in humans, in which the contribution of neural maturation and experience cannot be experimentally manipulated. Studies on animals, especially fish, can more effectively provide critical insights into the innate nature of numerical abilities.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e165
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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