PSYU 2239 Semantic Memory Flashcards
(27 cards)
List out the 3 theories of semantic memory
- Hierarchical Network Model
- Spreading Activation Model
- Features Comparison Model
What task was used for experiments on semantic memory organization? Describe it (Procedure; IV and DV)
- Sentence verification task
- Sx are shown with a sentence. Identify yes/no
- DV: Reaction time
Include 2 types of sentences used in sentence verification task
- Set Inclusion
- Property Attribute
Explain the hierarchical model
- A model organized using a hierarchy to explain semantic memory
- The higher in the hierarchy, the more generic it is. Going down in hierarchy means info are more specific
- It takes more reaction time to retrieve information the more levels it needs to pass
How past study by Collins & Quillian (1969) proves that hierarchical network model is true?
- A canary can sing
- A canary can fly
- A canary has skin
Reaction time: 1<2<3. Canary can sing is specific, while it gets more generic when moving up levels. As it takes more time to transfer between levels, reaction time gets longer
What did Conrad (1972) suggests based on the problem found in hierarchical model?
- Doesn’t explain typicality effect in RT within the same level
- RT varied with the subject-property frequency (associative strength) within a level
- RT are better explained in terms of frequency of co-occurrence of concept and property rather than levels
- RT do not always mirror hierarchical relationship
- Does not explain negative judgments are not faster for closer concepts; but the opposite
- Canary is salmon < Canary is ostrich
Key features of the spreading activation model
- Structure
- No hierarchy
- Strength
- Longer lengths means lower associated strength and vice versa
- Activation of a concept spreads to other concepts linked to it → Explains the semantic ______ effect
- Priming
Give an example of semantic priming effect
- Car - Truck
- Pen - Paper
Feature comparison model assumes concept is represented as a collection of ______ features
Distributed
- Explain the 2-stage Decision Model
- Compare ___ features of subject and predicate terms to determine overall similarity
- Compare ___ features of subject and predicate terms
All
Defining
Typicality Effect (on ___ decisions) - Faster to say Yes/No
Positive; Yes
Similarty Effect (on ___ decisions) - Faster to say Yes/No
Negative; No
- Studies of brain-impaired patients show
- (1) Selective impairment of categories. Describe the most common example
- Knowledge about non-living things are retained
- Knowledge about living things impaired
(2) Even more specific category-specific impairment. Describe an example of this
Impaired knowledge of musical instruments but preserved knowledge of non-living things
Patient JPR given 3 tasks. Write the findings based on each category
1. Picture Identification
2. Description of Object
3. Definition
- Picture Identification
- Bad in identifying living things
- Good at identifying NLT
- Impairment with food category
- Description of Object
- Bad description of LT
- Good description of NLT
- Definition
- Bad at giving definitions of LT
- Good at giving definitions of LT
- But impaired with precious stones and musical instrument
Living things are distinguished from each other on the basis of ____ properties
Perceptual (Visual)
Also explains category-specific impairments within manmade things where members are distinguished by visual properties. Give 2 examples
- Musical instruments
- Stones
Non-living things are distinguished from each other on the basis of ____ properties
Functionality
Problems of the perceptual-functional theory
- Not everything is perceived based on visual or functionality
- Some patients do not necessarily show impairments on one type of knowledge (only perceptual, only functional)
Distributed-Plus-Hub Theory
There is a hub located in ___ for each concept in addition to _____
Anterior Temporal Lobe (ATL)
Modality-specific information
Explain Hub in Distributed Plus Hub Theory
Abstract representations containing core knowledge of concepts
Spokes contain what kind of information
- Relatively specific information
- Related to sensory and motor processing
Damage to spokes will cause ____ specific deficits
Category
Distributed Plus Hub Theory predicts ____ & ____ deficit of semantic memory
Item-specific
Modality-independent
