{"title":"抽象符号在符号数学处理中的双重隐喻作用","authors":"Omid Khatin-Zadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101180","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanisms through which abstract mathematical symbols and symbolic mathematical representation are processed have been discussed in many works. Some neuroimaging and behavioral studies have provided evidence for the active role of visuospatial networks and spatial abilities in the processing of symbolic mathematical representations. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the process of understanding mathematical entities in terms of abstract symbols involves an initial explicit metaphorical stage followed by a subsequent implicit metaphorical stage. In the initial explicit metaphorical stage, a mathematical entity is metaphorically described in terms of abstract symbols. Abstract symbols serve as the source domain of this metaphorical stage. In the subsequent implicit metaphorical stage, abstract symbols are metaphorically conceptualized and understood in terms of space and spatial elements. Abstract symbols serve as the target domain of this stage. While the explicit metaphorical stage has a clearly-observable manifestation in the semiotic system of abstract mathematical symbols, the implicit metaphorical stage does not have such a realization in any semiotic system or cultural artifact. This purely implicit metaphorical processing of abstract symbols in terms of space and spatial elements can be observed only through neural activities in areas of brain involved in spatial processing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51556,"journal":{"name":"New Ideas in Psychology","volume":"79 ","pages":"Article 101180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"The dual metaphorical role of abstract symbols in symbolic mathematical processing\",\"authors\":\"Omid Khatin-Zadeh\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101180\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>The mechanisms through which abstract mathematical symbols and symbolic mathematical representation are processed have been discussed in many works. Some neuroimaging and behavioral studies have provided evidence for the active role of visuospatial networks and spatial abilities in the processing of symbolic mathematical representations. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the process of understanding mathematical entities in terms of abstract symbols involves an initial explicit metaphorical stage followed by a subsequent implicit metaphorical stage. In the initial explicit metaphorical stage, a mathematical entity is metaphorically described in terms of abstract symbols. Abstract symbols serve as the source domain of this metaphorical stage. In the subsequent implicit metaphorical stage, abstract symbols are metaphorically conceptualized and understood in terms of space and spatial elements. Abstract symbols serve as the target domain of this stage. While the explicit metaphorical stage has a clearly-observable manifestation in the semiotic system of abstract mathematical symbols, the implicit metaphorical stage does not have such a realization in any semiotic system or cultural artifact. This purely implicit metaphorical processing of abstract symbols in terms of space and spatial elements can be observed only through neural activities in areas of brain involved in spatial processing.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":51556,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"New Ideas in Psychology\",\"volume\":\"79 \",\"pages\":\"Article 101180\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":2.9000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-06-24\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"New Ideas in Psychology\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"102\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X25000364\",\"RegionNum\":3,\"RegionCategory\":\"心理学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"New Ideas in Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X25000364","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
The dual metaphorical role of abstract symbols in symbolic mathematical processing
The mechanisms through which abstract mathematical symbols and symbolic mathematical representation are processed have been discussed in many works. Some neuroimaging and behavioral studies have provided evidence for the active role of visuospatial networks and spatial abilities in the processing of symbolic mathematical representations. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the process of understanding mathematical entities in terms of abstract symbols involves an initial explicit metaphorical stage followed by a subsequent implicit metaphorical stage. In the initial explicit metaphorical stage, a mathematical entity is metaphorically described in terms of abstract symbols. Abstract symbols serve as the source domain of this metaphorical stage. In the subsequent implicit metaphorical stage, abstract symbols are metaphorically conceptualized and understood in terms of space and spatial elements. Abstract symbols serve as the target domain of this stage. While the explicit metaphorical stage has a clearly-observable manifestation in the semiotic system of abstract mathematical symbols, the implicit metaphorical stage does not have such a realization in any semiotic system or cultural artifact. This purely implicit metaphorical processing of abstract symbols in terms of space and spatial elements can be observed only through neural activities in areas of brain involved in spatial processing.
期刊介绍:
New Ideas in Psychology is a journal for theoretical psychology in its broadest sense. We are looking for new and seminal ideas, from within Psychology and from other fields that have something to bring to Psychology. We welcome presentations and criticisms of theory, of background metaphysics, and of fundamental issues of method, both empirical and conceptual. We put special emphasis on the need for informed discussion of psychological theories to be interdisciplinary. Empirical papers are accepted at New Ideas in Psychology, but only as long as they focus on conceptual issues and are theoretically creative. We are also open to comments or debate, interviews, and book reviews.