数量加工：基于密度加工的认知整合机制

The relationship of numerosity and density cognition is proposed to be crucial in numerosity research fields, because it decides the existence of an independent mechanism in numerosity cognition. Former experimental studies did poorly at efficiently discriminating numerosity and density processes, and previous perspectives are not comprehensive enough to demonstrate the relationship and mechanisms underlying these two processes. In the current project, processing of numerosity and density will be integrated, and the relationship between them will be demonstrated in an integrated frame. Firstly, we will discuss methods for operationally discriminating numerosity and density processes, with which we can effectively separate the two processes and illuminate the confusion in previous studies. Secondly, a series of comparison studies based on the operational discrimination methods will be conducted for numerosity and density processing, which are aimed at processing pathway and level, internal representation, and biological bases of the two processes, respectively. Both behavior and ERP researching methods will be included in this part. Relationship of the two processes could be analyzed thoroughly with these studies. Thirdly, results of the current project and former studies will be synthesized to compose a theory system. An integrated model of numerosity and density cognition will be constructed, describing the relationship of the two processes in detail and comprehensively illuminating the mechanisms of cognitive integrated processing of numerosity, which is based on density processing.

数量和密度认知的关系是数量认知研究的关键问题，它决定了数量认知作为一种独立加工机制的存在性。现有研究和理论缺乏对两种加工的有效操控和区分，未能阐明两种加工的机制。本项目将整合数量和密度认知过程，在统一的理论和模型框架下阐述两者关系，从而深入分析数量认知的加工层次和机制。包括三个部分的研究：研究一从任务要求和刺激特征方面讨论区分密度和数量加工的操作方法，有效分离两种加工，澄清前人研究的混淆；在操作化区分两种加工的基础上，研究二从认知行为和脑电研究两方面，对两者的加工通路和水平、内在表征和生理基础等进行直接的比较研究，深入分析两者的关系，阐述数量认知基于密度加工的整合机制和它的多层次加工过程；研究三综合前期成果，提出整合的理论体系，并构建密度-数量认知模型，描述两种认知加工的关系，以最终阐明数量加工基于密度加工的认知整合机制。

数量加工和密度加工的关系是数量认知研究的关键问题，它决定了数量认知作为一种独立加工机制的存在性。在本项目中，研究一首先讨论分离数量加工和密度加工的操作化方法，证实了“指导语控制”不能有效区分数量和密度加工，而“控制刺激的密集程度”和“分布规律”则是分离数量两种加工的关键方法，过于密集、或者分布具有规律的刺激都会抑制完备的数量加工过程，使认知过程呈现出密度加工的特征；在有效分离两种加工过程的基础上，研究二对于数量和密度加工的发生水平、生理基础和脑机制、内在表征等方面的加工特征进行对比研究，深入阐述了数量认知的多层次加工过程，证实完备的数量加工会包括“抽象化”、“个体化”等较高级的加工阶段，并涉及相对广泛的脑区、激活相对复杂的神经元细胞活动，是一个涉及多个分析水平的认知过程，而不完备的数量加工过程只涉及低水平分析过程，表现出密度加工的特征；最后，研究三提出理论模型，在同一框架下阐述了数量加工和密度加工的关系及发生机制，分析了本研究中提出的“刺激密集度”和“分布规律性”抑制高水平数量加工的进化意义，并采用机器学习（BP神经网络算法）的方法，对现有的实验数据进行了有效的拟合，检验了理论模型。