"This effect shows that in the case of strings with letter-like numbers, the link between the visual physical representations of numbers and the abstract representations of correct letters is made automatically, given the visual overlapping among characters," said the neuroscientist.
A second effect confirmed, at the 200 ms window, greater negativity for number conditions (M4T3R14L and M9T6R26L).
"The brain recognizes that the elements that make up the strings presented unconsciously are in fact numbers, not letters, showing some specificity in the processing despite the initial visual overlapping found in the above component," he assured.
Lastly, 250 ms after the display of strings, the conditions of identity and visually letter-like numbers showed a very similar positive effect, clearly different from the effect caused by the strings with numbers that were visually different from letters (control).
"The global processing of words is very similar for strings that include letters that are properly written and for those including numbers that are visually similar to letters", concluded Molinaro.
The study has been published in Neuropsychologia journal.
Source-ANI