Semantic Representation of Language Flashcards
What are the two opposing theories about how language meaning is mentally represented?
- Amodal symbol system: all mental orientations are abstract codes/ symbols
- Embodied cognition theory: representation depends on body experience
What is the problem with the amodal symbol theory?
- different brains could be using different codes
With the amodal theory in how many regions is the brain thought to be processing language meaning?
One point in the brain
In the embodied cognition theory how is meaning of language transduced?
Through selective attention: may attend to shape of chair, colour experience, sensory experience. These different experiences are the representation
In the embodied cognition theory what sort of neural system would you expect?
Distributed semantic neural system: e.g. motor system would represent motor experiences, auditory system would deal with sound because concepts have multiple senses
What is the problem with abstract symbols in the amodal theory?
Symbol grounding problem: symbols themselves are not intrinsically different from each-other just have different values so can’t distinguish between them very well and could potentially draw on many other possible components. There are no constraints to force symbols to apply to a particular thing
Do embodied theories have constraints?
Yes, physical ones
If the amodal theory is correct when shown a pencil at different orientations the representation of the pencil should be the same for both orientations and so the reaction times will be the same. Is this the case and why?
No. The orientation of the pencil described makes a difference to our reaction tim. For example the sentence ‘John put the pencil in the cup’ implied vertical orientation so if our mental representation for the pencil involves perceptual information then it would contain orientation information. So when a vertical picture was shown after the vertical sentence the reaction time was quicker. This could be because of priming effects.
what is a sentence picture verification task?
Participant hears a sentence and then asks if the object in the picture was mentioned in the sentence
Are language systems (for example Borca’s) exclusively for language?
No
What part of the brain does reading action words activate?
The motor cortex
The understanding of language is topographically organised. What does this mean and what does this discredit?
That when we read something it will be associated with the part of the cortex associated with that action. E.g. reading kicking will activate the superior part of the motor cortex which is associated with feet.
- This discredits the amodal system
Why if you stimulate the foot muscle after listening to a sentence that has the word ‘foot’ in it is the foot MEP (from TMS) reduced compared to the hand?
- Because if you read something such as ‘kicking’ it will engage your foot muscles and interfere with subsequent MEPs
Are there language areas in the brain for when the brain hears a change in information?
No - different types of changes are coded in different parts of the brain
Do Parkinson’s patients have difficulty in understanding actions in language and why?
Yes because they have motor system impairment. This shows that the motor system is activated when reading a sentence with an action in it.
