The mental number line (MNL) as a metaphor for describing the spatially organized mental representation of numbers in long-term memory has a number of theoretical implications that refer to spatial-numerical associations (e.g. the Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes [SNARC]), biases of spatial attention (attentional SNARC), or the involvement of transient stimulus representations in working memory. The current symposium brings together empirical works from leading European labs that put these notions to test. The talks are complementary in terms of methodology (e.g. reaction time experiments; line marking tasks; word categorization tasks; temporal
order judgments tasks), investigated samples (healthy participants; neurological patients) and age range (Kindergarteners, adults) but jointly address the idea of a spatial representation of numbers from different perspectives. The common underlying theoretical framework will facilitate the exchange on limiting conditions of the MNL metaphor by transgressing disciplinary boundaries. This will help developing alternative theoretical frameworks by highlighting alternative mechanisms such as transient organizational principles in working memory, task-specific spatial response codes, or culturally mediated factors such as counting habits.