A Future of Words: Language and the Challenge of Abstract Concepts

Journal of Cognition, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 3(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2020

The paper outlines one of the most important challenges that embodied and grounded theories need to face, i.e., explain how abstract concepts (abstractness) are acquired, represented, used. I illustrate view according which not only in sensorimotor experiences, like concrete concepts, but also a greater extent linguistic, social, inner experiences. Specifically, discuss role played by metacognition, speech, social interoception. present evidence showing weight experiences varies depending on considered sub-kind (e.g., mental states spiritual numbers, emotions, concepts). argue challenge representation implies recognition of: a. language, intended as tool, shaping our mind; b. importance differences across languages; c. existence different kinds concepts; d. necessity adopt new paradigms, able capture use context interactive situations. This should be addressed with an integrated approach bridges developmental, anthropological, neuroscientific studies. extends views incorporating insights from distributional statistics meaning, pragmatics semiotics.

Язык: Английский

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Inner speech as language process and cognitive tool

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 27(12), С. 1180 - 1193

Опубликована: Сен. 26, 2023

Many people report a form of internal language known as inner speech (IS). This review examines recent growth research interest in the phenomenon, which has broadly supported theoretical model IS is functional process that can confer benefits for cognition range domains. A key insight to have emerged years an embodied experience characterized by varied subjective qualities, be usefully modeled artificial systems and whose neural signals potential decoded through advancing brain–computer interface technologies. Challenges future include understanding individual differences mapping function across subtypes.

Язык: Английский

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Mapping semantic space: Exploring the higher-order structure of word meaning

Cognition, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 248, С. 105794 - 105794

Опубликована: Апрель 23, 2024

Multiple representation theories posit that concepts are represented via a combination of properties derived from sensorimotor, affective, and linguistic experiences. Recently, it has been proposed information social experience, or socialness, represents another key aspect conceptual representation. How these various dimensions interact to form coherent space yet be fully explored. To address this, we capitalized on openly available word property norms for 6339 words conducted large-scale investigation into the relationships between 18 dimensions. An exploratory factor analysis reduced six higher-order factors: sub-lexical, distributional, visuotactile, body action, affective interaction. All factors explained unique variance in performance lexical semantic tasks, demonstrating they make important contributions meaning. novel finding was socialness dimension clustered with auditory modality mouth head actions. We suggest this reflects experiential learning verbal interpersonal interactions. Moreover, formally modelling network structure revealed pairwise partial correlations most highlighted centrality interoception dimension. Altogether, findings provide new insights architecture space, including importance inner highlight promising avenues future research.

Язык: Английский

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Rethinking the role of language in embodied cognition

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 378(1870)

Опубликована: Дек. 26, 2022

There has been a lot of recent interest in the way that language might enhance embodied cognition. This is driven large part by growing body evidence implicating system various aspects semantic memory—including, but not limited to, its apparent contribution to abstract concepts. In this essay, I develop and defend novel account cognitive role played our relies on nature itself, diverges significant ways from traditional accounts, flexible, multimodal multilevel view conceptual system. article theme issue ‘Concepts interaction: social engagement inner experiences’.

Язык: Английский

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Multi-dimensional sensorimotor grounding of concrete and abstract categories

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 378(1870)

Опубликована: Дек. 26, 2022

Semantic categories, and the concepts belonging to them, have commonly been defined by their relative concreteness, that is, reliance on perception. However, sensorimotor grounding must be regarded as going beyond basic five senses incorporate a multi-dimensional variety of perceptual action experience. We present series exploratory analyses examining participant-produced member for 117 spanning concrete (e.g. animal furniture ) highly abstract unit time science categories. found both categories are strongly grounded in Both domains were dominated vision and, lesser extent, head movements, but more touch hand–arm action, while hearing interoception. Importantly, this pattern was not uniform, subdomains ingestibles, animates, natural artefacts) internal, social non-social) different profiles Overall, these findings suggest distinction between is clearcut ontological assumptions might suggest, strength diversity underestimated. This article part theme issue ‘Concepts interaction: engagement inner experiences’.

Язык: Английский

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Consensus Paper: Current Perspectives on Abstract Concepts and Future Research Directions

Journal of Cognition, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

concepts are relevant to a wide range of disciplines, including cognitive science, linguistics, psychology, cognitive, social, and affective neuroscience, philosophy. This consensus paper synthesizes the work views researchers in field, discussing current perspectives on theoretical methodological issues, recommendations for future research. In this paper, we urge go beyond traditional abstract-concrete dichotomy consider multiple dimensions that characterize (e.g., sensorimotor experience, social interaction, conceptual metaphor), as well mediating influence linguistic cultural context representations. We also promote use interactive methods investigate both comprehension production abstract concepts, while focusing individual differences Overall, argue should be studied more nuanced way takes into account their complexity diversity, which permit us fuller, holistic understanding cognition.

Язык: Английский

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Socialness effects in lexical–semantic processing.

Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 50(8), С. 1329 - 1343

Опубликована: Март 21, 2024

Contemporary theories of semantic representation posit that social experience is an important source information for deriving meaning. However, there a lack behavioral evidence in support this proposal. The aim the present work was to test whether words' degree relevance, or

Язык: Английский

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Evidence for the Concreteness of Abstract Language: A Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies

Brain Sciences, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 12(1), С. 32 - 32

Опубликована: Дек. 28, 2021

The neural mechanisms subserving the processing of abstract concepts remain largely debated. Even within embodiment theoretical framework, most authors suggest that are coded in a linguistic propositional format, although they do not completely deny role sensorimotor and emotional experiences coding it. To our knowledge, only one recent proposal puts forward concrete relies on same mechanisms, with difference being complexity underlying experiences. In this paper, we performed meta-analysis using Activation Likelihood Estimates (ALE) method 33 functional neuroimaging studies considered activations related to concepts. results (1) share recruitment temporo-fronto-parietal circuits normally involved interactions physical world, (2) recruits fronto-parietal areas better than concepts, (3) recruit Broca's region more strongly ones. Based anatomical physiological evidence, is mainly devoted speech production, but it endowed complex motor representations different biological effectors. Hence, propose stronger for expression it, rather evidence purely format its processing.

Язык: Английский

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Development of Abstract Word Knowledge

Frontiers in Psychology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 12

Опубликована: Июнь 7, 2021

The development of children’s word knowledge is an important testing ground for the embodied account meaning, which proposes that meanings are grounded in sensorimotor systems. Acquisition abstract words, particular, a noted challenge strong accounts embodiment. We examined acquisition meanings, using data on vocabulary from early school to University ages. tested two specific proposals how words learned: affective embodiment account, emotional experience key learning and through language proposal, acquired experience. found support account: valence, interoception, mouth action all facilitated more than concrete acquisition. proposal by investigating whether appear diverse linguistic contexts earlier acquired. Results showed contextual diversity acquisition, but did so both words. Our results provide evidence emotion systems there still considerable variance be accounted other factors. offer suggestions future research examine vocabulary.

Язык: Английский

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Articulatory suppression delays processing of abstract words: The role of inner speech

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 75(7), С. 1343 - 1354

Опубликована: Окт. 8, 2021

Compared to concrete concepts, like "book," abstract concepts expressed by words "justice" are more detached from sensorial experiences, even though they also grounded in modalities. Abstract lack a single object as referent and characterised higher variability both within across participants. According the Word Social Tool (WAT) proposal, owing their complexity, need be processed with help of inner language. Inner language can namely participants re-explain themselves meaning word, keep information active working memory, prepare ask competent people. While previous studies have demonstrated that mouth is involved during concepts' processing, functional role mechanisms underlying this involvement still clarified. We report an experiment which were required evaluate whether 78 or pressing two different pedals. During judgement task, submitted, blocks, baseline, articulatory suppression, manipulation condition. In last conditions, had repeat syllable continually manipulate softball dominant hand. Results showed suppression slowed down processing than words. Overall results confirm WAT proposal's hypothesis involves motor system specifically speech. discuss implications for current theories conceptual representation.

Язык: Английский

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