Semantic Networks in Cognition

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts, theories, and models discussed in the lecture about semantic networks and cognitive organization.

What is the main question explored in the lecture regarding cognitive organization?

How are ideas (or concepts) organized in the brain?

What is a key feature of hierarchical semantic networks?

Concept nodes are linked with more general concepts.

Explain cognitive economy in the context of semantic networks.

Features are embedded at the most general possible level, allowing shared properties between lower and higher-level items.

What does the term 'inheritance' refer to in hierarchical semantic networks?

Lower-level items share properties of higher-level items.

What is the main focus of Sentence Verification in Collins & Quillian's research?

Reaction time for confirming true statements about concepts.

How does the feature comparison model function according to Smith, Shoben & Rips?

It involves a two-stage process: compare all features, followed by a comparison of defining features if there is moderate overlap.

What is the 'typicality effect' concerning the Feature Comparison model?

It suggests that some members of a category are more representative than others, affecting the response times in categorization.

Define 'spreading activation' in the context of semantic networks.

Activation of a node arouses related nodes, making associated concepts more easily accessible from memory.

What is one limitation of the Spreading Activation model identified in the assessment?

There are no rules for determining link length or how long activation will spread.

What is a schema in cognitive psychology?

A knowledge structure that organizes clusters of knowledge and helps assimilate new information or experiences.

Describe the difference between centrality and sequential order in scripts.

Centrality relates to the importance of actions within an event, while sequential order pertains to the temporal arrangement of actions.

What does Barsalou's Perceptual Symbol System suggest about knowledge?

Knowledge is tied to sensory experiences and can be processed faster when it matches real-world organization.