Meta-analysis shows a malleable rightward bias in the expectations of objects in space

Pseudoneglect, considered the archetype of spatial attentional asymmetries among neurologically healthy individuals, is traditionally described as a consistent leftward error in visuo-spatial tasks. Here we challenge this notion by revealing a consistent rightward “internal” bias in a task where participants’ representational encoding of visuo-spatial information is captured. Our meta-analysis across seven experiments in 1750 neurotypical individuals robustly demonstrates a rightward internal bias in the expectations of objects in space. Moreover, we show that this bias is malleable, with a simple behavioural intervention that manipulates prior expectations, albeit with limited generalisability. By successfully recalibrating a spatial bias, our research highlights the potential for cognitive adjustments in addressing spatial cognition challenges such as those in unilateral spatial neglect after stroke.