A peer-reviewed study by UCLA researchers found that perception can be influenced by the associations made between numbers and size through the brain's cognitive process. The study exposed subjects to images of different football jersey numbers to measure their perception of the person wearing it. The smaller the number, the more likely the subject was to perceive a slimmer player.

• Scientific research has found that perception can be influenced by the associations made between numbers and size through the brain's cognitive process.
• A study by UCLA researchers exposed subjects to images of different football jersey numbers and found that the smaller the number, the more likely the subject was to perceive a slimmer player.
• The study's findings have implications beyond football, as they can inform how the brain establishes implicit bias in decision-making.