What the Attentional-SNARC and its (null) replications can and cannot tell us

Abstract

In response to a point raised by Fischer et al. (2020), we discuss the theoretical implications of both the original Attentional SNARC (Att-SNARC) and its recent failed multi-laboratory replication. In our view, the theoretical importance of the original Att-SNARC can be summarized in two points: (1) there is a conceptual link between numbers and space, which can be observed as Spatial-Numerical Associations, and (2) Spatial-Numerical Associations are involuntary and automatic. We conclude that convergent evidence from other paradigms saves the first point from being challenged in light of the failed replication; but, on the other hand, empirical evidence for the second point no longer holds.