Semantic Memory Knowledge memory Main questions How do we gain knowledge? How is our knowledge represented and organised in the mind-brain? What happens when we access information? (Note 2 nd and 3 rd questions are strongly related.)

Semantic Memory Knowledge memory Important task lexical decision task make a word-nonword judgement for a letter string

higgle

murget

beer

stout

Semantic Memory Knowledge memory Main questions How do we gain knowledge? Repetition memorisation of lists (Ebbinghaus) consider lexical decisions across multiple presentations

Lexical Decision RT for Words and Nonwords As a Function of Number of Trials RT (ms) 400 Number of Trials Nonword Word

Semantic Memory How do we gain knowledge? Repetition Drop in lexical decision RT across repetitions, especially for nonwords After many reps, nonword RT as low as word RT

Lexical Decision Threshold for Words and Nonwords As a Function of Number of Trials Threshold (ms) 0.0 Number of Trials Nonword Word

Semantic Memory How do we gain knowledge? Repetition Drop in lexical decision thresholds across repetitions, especially for nonwords After roughly 6 presentations, nonword decision threshold as low as word threshold

Semantic Memory Knowledge memory Main questions How is our knowledge represented and organised in the mind-brain? What happens when we access information? (These questions are strongly related.)

Semantic Memory Organisation Semantic network (Collins & Quillian,1969 ) hierarchical organisation categories within categories properties of items (nodes) represented once at highest category level possible— cognitive economy some nodes connected to each other properties connected to nodes

Animal Node (a representation)

Animal node Breathes Skin properties

Animal node Breathes Skin p p

Animal Breathes Skin p p Fish is a

Animal Breathes Skin p p Fish is a superordinate subordinate p p Gills Fins p Swims

Animal Breathes Skin p p Fish is a p p Gills Fins is a Salmon p p Pink flesh Cold water Swims

Spreading activation activation of a node spreads through the network spread of activation is automatic the strength of activation dissipates across nodes farther nodes receive less activation activation decreases with time

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Cold blooded Salmon Pink flesh Cold water Swims

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Cold blooded Salmon Pink flesh Cold water Swims

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Salmon Pink flesh Cold water Swims Cold blooded

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Salmon Pink flesh Cold water Swims Cold blooded

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Cold water Swims Salmon Pink flesh Cold blooded

Evidence Sentence verification task (measure RT) A salmon is a salmon. A salmon is a fish. A salmon is an animal. Prediction: The manner in which activation spreads means that RT should be fastest for the 1st sentence, slower for the 2 nd sentence, slowest for the 3 rd sentence.

Evidence Sentence verification task (measure RT) A salmon is a salmon. (# links = 0) A salmon is a fish. (# links = 1) A salmon is an animal. (# links = 2) Prediction: The manner in which activation spreads means that RT should be fastest for the 1st sentence, slower for the 2 nd sentence, slowest for the 3 rd sentence.

Verification Time as a Function of the Number of Links from the Activated Node Number of Links 1000 RT (ms)

Evidence Sentence verification task (measure RT) use properties A salmon needs cold water. (# links = 0) A salmon has gills. (# links = 1) A salmon can breathe. (# links = 2) Prediction: The manner in which activation spreads means that RT should be fastest for the 1st sentence, slower for the 2 nd sentence, slowest for the 3 rd sentence.

Verification Time for Properties as a Function of the Number of Links from the Activated Node Number of Links 1000 RT (ms)

Evidence Sentence verification task (measure RT) Prediction: The manner in which activation spreads means that RT should be fastest for the 1st sentence, slower for the 2 nd sentence, slowest for the 3 rd sentence. Prediction upheld; support for the semantic network theory

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Salmon Swims Eel Cold blooded

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Swims Eel Original semantic network predicted similar RTs for all members of a category. (Prediction: A salmon is a fish = An eel is a fish) Salmon Cold blooded

Different theory Feature list model or Attribute list model (Smith, Rips, & Shoben, 1974) Idea: Each concept has a list of features or attributes

Different theory Feature list model or Attribute list model Idea: Each concept has a list of features or attributes Fish Salmon Eel breathes breathes breathes skin skin skin gills gills gills cold blooded cold blooded cold blooded swims swims swims pink flesh long and narrow cold water no pectoral fins colourful can be in warm water

Different theory Feature list model or Attribute list model Idea: Each concept has a list of features or attributes To make verifications: First stage: one compares the global features of the two concepts (e.g., living vs. nonliving). Get a value (score) for amount of overlap. Low value – quick rejection (“no”) High value – quick acceptance (“yes”) Middle value – not sure

Different theory Feature list model or Attribute list model Idea: Each concept has a list of features or attributes To make verifications: 1st stage: Compare the global features of the two concepts. Middle value – not sure Go to 2 nd stage: Compare defining features of the concepts. End up with a slow response for match or mismatch. (Slow “yes” – an eel is a fish; or slow “no” – a dolphin is a fish)

Different theory Feature list model or Attribute list model Predicts fast RTs for typical members of a category Predicts slow RTs for atypical members of a category (e.g. A perch is a fish < A salmon is a fish < An eel is a fish)

Verification Time as a Function of Category Typicality Typicality RT (ms) High MediumLow (perch) (salmon)(eel)

Feature list model good for isa questions, but not very good with property questions Typicality is important Cognitive economy may not be so important (also Conrad, 1972)

Revised semantic network model (Collins & Loftus, 1975) connection between typical category members and the superordinate are shorter (closer) than the connections between atypical category members and the superordinate properties can be represented more than once (no more cognitive economy) captures idea of semantic relatedness

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Tail fin Trout Swims Eel Cod Gills

Animal Breathes Skin Fish Gills Cold blooded Salmon Swims Eel Perch Gills isa p p p p p p p p

Semantic Memory Knowledge memory Main questions How do we gain knowledge? repetition (form a node?) How is our knowledge represented and organised in the mind-brain? semantic network What happens when we access information? spreading activation