Elena Eccher, Manuela Piazza, Giorgio Vallortigara
{"title":"The interplay between culture, task and biology in spatial–numerical associations","authors":"Elena Eccher, Manuela Piazza, Giorgio Vallortigara","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00591-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00591-w","url":null,"abstract":"Adults tend to systematically associate numerical information with spatial positions, such as associating smaller numbers with the left and larger numbers with the right side of space. These spatial–numerical associations were initially attributed to cultural factors such as reading direction, but evidence from non-human animals suggests a biological foundation. In this Review, we examine behavioural evidence to clarify the origins of spatial–numerical associations and how cultural and biological factors shape their existence and direction. First, we discuss how specific tasks and stimulus types constrain the implications of spatial–numerical association studies. Then we review findings from non-human animals and human infants that suggest early biological predispositions for a left-to-right mapping of numerical information onto space. Next, we consider findings from adults with different written language experience, which highlight the role of cultural experience. Finally, we speculate on possible mechanisms underlying an implicit form of non-symbolic spatial–numerical associations and propose directions for future research. Adults tend to systematically associate numerical information with space, such as small numbers with the left. In this Review, Eccher and colleagues discuss how cultural and biological factors shape the existence and direction of these spatial–numerical associations.","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"531-545"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assortative mating follows from co-inheritance of traits and preferences","authors":"Thomas Felesina","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00596-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00596-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"519-519"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Killian L. McLoughlin, Alexis Palmer, J. Nathan Matias, M. J. Crockett
{"title":"Proprietary LLMs impede scientific transparency and reproducibility","authors":"Killian L. McLoughlin, Alexis Palmer, J. Nathan Matias, M. J. Crockett","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00593-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00593-8","url":null,"abstract":"Large language models are rapidly transforming the methods of psychological research, but the use of proprietary models poses risks to transparency and reproducibility. Prioritizing open models and standardizing reporting practices can ensure these tools support — rather than undermine — scientific progress. Large language models (LLMs) are rapidly transforming the methods of psychological research, but the use of proprietary models poses risks to transparency and reproducibility. Prioritizing open models and standardizing reporting practices can ensure these tools support — rather than undermine — scientific progress.","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"513-514"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How social interactions become embodied in development","authors":"Alessandro Carollo","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00592-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00592-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"517-517"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Meaningful perception of faces shapes the limits of visual memory","authors":"Lily Hoy","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00588-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00588-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"515-515"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wen-Jing Yan (, ), Li Yan (, ), Zhou-Jie Shen (, ), Zhicheng Lin (, ), Michel Ferrari, Chao S. Hu (, )
{"title":"Metacognition can mitigate AI-driven homogenization of ideas","authors":"Wen-Jing Yan \u0000 (, ), Li Yan \u0000 (, ), Zhou-Jie Shen \u0000 (, ), Zhicheng Lin \u0000 (, ), Michel Ferrari, Chao S. Hu \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1038/s44159-026-00587-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44159-026-00587-6","url":null,"abstract":"Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems can reshape the population-level distribution of ideas, and potentially reduce collective cognitive diversity, creativity and long-term innovation. Intellectual humility, metacognitive flexibility and perspectival metacognition might mitigate such homogenization.","PeriodicalId":74249,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews psychology","volume":"5 8","pages":"511-512"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}