Influence of language on perception and concept formation in a brain-constrained deep neural network model

Author:

Henningsen-Schomers Malte R.12ORCID,Garagnani Max13ORCID,Pulvermüller Friedemann1452ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Brain Language Laboratory, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany

2. Cluster of Excellence ‘Matters of Activity. Image Space Material’, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany

3. Department of Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, SE14 6NW, UK

4. Berlin School of Mind and Brain, 10099 Berlin, Germany

5. Einstein Center for Neurosciences, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Abstract

A neurobiologically constrained model of semantic learning in the human brain was used to simulate the acquisition of concrete and abstract concepts, either with or without verbal labels. Concept acquisition and semantic learning were simulated using Hebbian learning mechanisms. We measured the network's category learning performance, defined as the extent to which it successfully (i) grouped partly overlapping perceptual instances into a single (abstract or concrete) conceptual representation, while (ii) still distinguishing representations for distinct concepts. Co-presence of linguistic labels with perceptual instances of a given concept generally improved the network's learning of categories, with a significantly larger beneficial effect for abstract than concrete concepts. These results offer a neurobiological explanation for causal effects of language structure on concept formation and on perceptuo-motor processing of instances of these concepts: supplying a verbal label during concept acquisition improves the cortical mechanisms by which experiences with objects and actions along with the learning of words lead to the formation of neuronal ensembles for specific concepts and meanings. Furthermore, the present results make a novel prediction, namely, that such ‘Whorfian’ effects should be modulated by the concreteness/abstractness of the semantic categories being acquired, with language labels supporting the learning of abstract concepts more than that of concrete ones. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences’.

Funder

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

H2020 European Research Council

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Reference98 articles.

1. The Modularity of Mind

2. Large-scale neurocognitive networks and distributed processing for attention, language, and memory

3. Fuster JM. 2003 Cortex and mind: unifying cognition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

4. Neural reuse of action perception circuits for language, concepts and communication

5. Whorf BL. 1956 Language, thought, and reality: selected writings (ed. JB Carroll). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3