Abstract Words Flashcards
Name the two theories of abstract vs. concrete concepts
- Dual Coding Model
- Context Availability Model
Describe the Dual Coding Model
-words have two kinds of characteristics, verbal and non-verbal (imagery).
According to the Dual Coding Model how are concrete concepts represented?
Concrete concepts have approximately equal amounts of nonverbal and verbal content
According to the Dual Coding Model how are concrete concepts represented?
Concrete concepts have approximately equal amounts of nonverbal and verbal content
According to the Dual Coding Model how are abstract concepts represented?
abstract concepts have directly only verbal content (but associatively also nonverbal content): religion-church-image of church
Describe the Context Availability Model
All semantic knowledge is amodal/abstract. Concrete words have more constant meanings (anchored in their physical referents) whereas
According to the Dual Coding Model how are abstract concepts represented?
Concrete words have more constant meanings (anchored in their physical referents) whereas
According to the Dual Coding Model how are abstract concepts represented?
abstract words have different meanings in different contexts
- It’s down to chance.
- Take a chance.
- I’ll do it when I get a chance.
Is is possible for concrete words to be affected by their context?
Yes, slightly
red apple/red hair
What is the concreteness effect?
There are advantages for concrete compared to abstract words in various processing tasks (included LD tasks)
How does the Dual Coding Model explain concreteness effects?
the Dual Coding Model predicts that abstract words are harder/slower to process because only verbal processes are directly available to comprehend them whereas concrete words are also supported by imagery processes
How does the Context Availability Model explain concreteness effects?
the Context Availability Model predicts that abstract words are harder in isolation because the lack of context makes it
hard to choose between different available meanings whereas meaning selection for concrete words in isolation is simpler
-the model also predicts that including a context will ameliorate or abolish concreteness effects
How does the Context Availability Model explain concreteness effects?
the Context Availability Model predicts that abstract words are harder in isolation because the lack of context makes it
hard to choose between different available meanings whereas meaning selection for concrete words in isolation is simpler
-the model also predicts that including a context will ameliorate or abolish concreteness effects
Based on the meta-analysis what areas were demonstrated to be Concrete > Abstract? What model is this consistent with?
- left fusiform
- bilateral posterior cingulate
- left angular gyrus
-Consistent with the Dual Coding Model
Based on the meta-analysis what areas were demonstrated to be Abstract > Concrete? What model is this consistent with?
- Left middle/superior ATL
- Broca’s area
-Different elements support both the Dual Coding Model and the Context Availability Model
Based on the meta-analysis what areas were demonstrated to be Abstract > Concrete? What model is this consistent with?
- Left middle/superior ATL
- Broca’s area
-Different elements support both the Dual Coding Model and the Context Availability Model
The Hoffman et al 2010 TMS and Lesion study provided words in isolation or with a sentence (relevant or irrelevant). What were the results and what model is this consistent with?
Relevant Context improved understanding of abstract but not concrete words as predicted by the Context Availability Model
Patient SC with ATL atrophy showed a reversed concreteness effect. What are some explanations for this?
- distribution of atrophy (concrete words may depend more on ventral ATL?)
- knowledge of abstract concepts before brain injury may play role
results suggest that ______ lateral ATL, especially the most anterior portion of the left middle temporal gyrus, is more critical for abstract than concrete concepts
left
