Semantic Memory

What is an evolutionary explanation for knowledge categorization?

to pass on information to offspring to increase their chance of survival

Describe the hierarchical model of semantic organization

proposes that we organize semantic knowledge based on main superordinate categories that branch off into subsequent subordinate categories

What is one piece of behavioural evidence for the hierarchical model of semantic organization?

participants are faster at classifying a robin as a bird than an animal because the latter requires going further up in the hierarchy

What are three problems with the hierarchical model of semantic organization?

1. not all concepts have clear hierarchies

2. being able to faster identify certain words may have to do with how often they are presented together and not based on hierarchical order

3. relies on circular definitions

Describe how temporal lobe activity provides evidence for the hierarchical model of semantic organization

it has been found that different parts of the lateral temporal lobes activate differently depending on the specificity of the information

• posterior regions = activate when less specific info is mentioned

• anterior regions = activate when more specific info is mentioned

amodal definition

not tied to one or more perceptual systems

Symbol Grouping Problem Definition

the problem of defining concepts without assuming some preexisting knowledge

Embodied Cognition Definition

the idea that the body (its movement, or internal state) can be used in cognition to understand words or social situations

Embodied Cognition Example

we learn that an apple is sweet because we eat an apple and experience it's sweetness, therefore our perception is now influencing our semantic understanding of apples