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Cross-situational learning is supported by propose-but-verify hypothesis testing

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 12:35 authored by Samuel BerensSamuel Berens, Jessica HorstJessica Horst, Chris BirdChris Bird
When we encounter a new word, there are often multiple objects that the word might refer to [1]. Nonetheless, because names for concrete nouns are constant, we are able to learn them across successive encounters [2, 3]. This form of “cross-situational” learning may result from either associative mechanisms that gradually accumulate evidence for each word-object association [4, 5] or rapid propose-but-verify (PbV) mechanisms where only one hypothesized referent is stored for each word, which is either subsequently verified or rejected [6, 7]. Using model-based representation similarity analyses of fMRI data acquired during learning, we find evidence for learning mediated by a PbV mechanism. This learning may be underpinned by rapid pattern-separation processes in the hippocampus. Our findings shed light on the psychological and neural processes that support word learning, suggesting that adults rely on their episodic memory to track a limited number of word-object associations

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Current Biology

ISSN

0960-9822

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

7

Volume

28

Page range

1132-1136

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-03-21

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-03-21

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-03-21

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