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Language and Development > Semantic memory and the meaning of words - BL3 > Flashcards

Semantic memory and the meaning of words - BL3 Flashcards

1
Q

What are concepts in language?

A

collections of features

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2
Q

What are the 3 models for concepts in language?

A
  • hierarchically structured
  • prototype
  • embodied concepts
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3
Q

What do hierarchically structured models of language concepts suggest? (2)

A
  • go from a general category all the way down to the specific thing and information about it
  • organisation based on basic level categories and superordinate categories
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4
Q

What is some evidence for hierarchically structured models of language concepts? (2)

A
  • category verification tasks (‘canary is an animal’ vs ‘canary is a bird’ yes or no task)
  • reaction times increased as a function of nodes going up the hierarchy
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5
Q

What do hierarchically structured models of language concepts not explain?

A

why ‘a penguin is a bird’ is slower to respond to than ‘a canary is a bird’ (they are on the same level)

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6
Q

What do prototype models of language concepts suggest?

A
  • concepts are made of frequency/typical features of typical category members
  • graded internal structure as a function of similarity to prototype
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7
Q

Which thing do prototype models of language concepts explain that hierarchically structured models of language concepts don’t?

A

‘penguins are birds’ takes longer than canary because canaries are more prototypical birds

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8
Q

What do embodied concepts theories of language concepts suggest?

A
  • ground concepts in body actions and perception
  • think about what you can do with the object as well as what it is
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9
Q

What is some evidence for embodied concepts theories of language concepts?

A

motor aspects of actions can be activated in the brain when processing language, action verbs in particular

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10
Q

What do distributed models of semantic memory in the brain suggest?

A
  • concepts are a distributed network organised about sensory-motor functions
  • networks of features make up categories
  • no single meaning centre
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11
Q

According to distributed models of semantic memory in the brain, which 3 things are represented in different areas of the brain when processing language?

A

motor features, motion features, object and animal shape

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12
Q

Patient JRB can name non-living pictures but not living ones: What might this deficit be explained by? (2)

A
  • damage to category knowledge top node (hierarchical models) - living vs non-living
  • selective damage of sensory features (distributed models)
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13
Q

Where is damage in semantic dementia and what does it lead to?

A
  • anterior temporal lobe (mainly the left)
  • non-category specific semantic impairments
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14
Q

What view of categories is semantic dementia inconsistent with?

A

distributed

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15
Q

What other thing can affect the anterior temporal lobe (other than semantic dementia)?

A

herpes simplex encephalitis

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16
Q

What does semantic dementia lead to a progressive loss of?

A

low level distinctive features

17
Q

What are relatively preserved in semantic dementia? (5)

A
  • grammar
  • articulation
  • episodic memory of events
  • spatial and geographical knowledge
  • executive control
18
Q

Which concepts tend to be lost first in semantic dementia? (2)

A
  • low frequency/highly specific concepts
  • specific distinctions (use a higher up category for a specific object)
19
Q

What part of objects seems to be lost first when semantic dementia patients are asked to draw something from memory?

A

distinctive features

20
Q

What other factors can affect retention or loss of meanings in semantic dementia? (2)

A
  • familiarity/frequency
  • age of acquisition
21
Q

What does the hub and spoke model suggest?

A

information flows from the sensory areas of the brain into the anterior temporal pole and back to bring information together

22
Q

What do semantic processing studies involve?

A

ask participants to perform meaning-related and conceptual tasks

23
Q

Which brain regions are involved in semantic competition? (2)

A
  • LIFG
  • PMTG
24
Q

How does brain activation differ in high and low selection conditions when thinking of which word goes with another word?

A

more competition = more LIFG and PMTG activation

25
Q

Other than high-selection conditions, what else leads to more LIFG and PMTG activation? (5)

A
  • ambiguity
  • more words to choose from
  • weakly related words
  • verbs > nouns
  • abstract > concrete concepts
26
Q

So what is a summary of the left inferior frontal gyrus? (3)

A
  • involved in retrieving, selecting and maintaining semantic information
  • typically acts in concert with PMTG
  • convergence zone anatomically
27
Q

What is semantic control?

A

meaning processes that are not automatic and require more effort and attention to detail

Language and Development (16 decks)

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