Perceptual symbol systems and art

10.1017/s0140525x99512144 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 635-636

Author(s):

Katja Wiemer-Hastings ◽

Arthur C. Graesser

Keyword(s):

Abstract Concepts ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Abstract Noun ◽

The meanings of abstract concepts depend on context. Perceptual symbol systems (PSS) provide a powerful framework for representing such context. Whereas a few expected difficulties for simulations are consistent with empirical findings, the theory does not clearly predict simulations of specific abstract concepts in a testable way and does not appear to distinguish abstract noun concepts (like truth) from their stem concepts (such as true).

Verifying Different-Modality Properties for Concepts Produces Switching Costs

Psychological Science ◽

10.1111/1467-9280.t01-1-01429 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 119-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 190

Author(s):

Diane Pecher ◽

René Zeelenberg ◽

Lawrence W. Barsalou

Keyword(s):

Switching Costs ◽

Perceptual Processing ◽

Auditory Modality ◽

Associative Priming ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Perceptual Simulation ◽

Conceptual Processing ◽

Processing Cost ◽

The Cost ◽

According to perceptual symbol systems, sensorimotor simulations underlie the representation of concepts. It follows that sensorimotor phenomena should arise in conceptual processing. Previous studies have shown that switching from one modality to another during perceptual processing incurs a processing cost. If perceptual simulation underlies conceptual processing, then verifying the properties of concepts should exhibit a switching cost as well. For example, verifying a property in the auditory modality (e.g., BLENDER-loud) should be slower after verifying a property in a different modality (e.g., CRANBERRIES-tart) than after verifying a property in the same modality (e.g., LEAVES-rustling). Only words were presented to subjects, and there were no instructions to use imagery. Nevertheless, switching modalities incurred a cost, analogous to the cost of switching modalities in perception. A second experiment showed that this effect was not due to associative priming between properties in the same modality. These results support the hypothesis that perceptual simulation underlies conceptual processing.

Perceptual symbol systems and emotion

10.1017/s0140525x99252144 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 612-613 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Louis C. Charland

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

Systems Theory ◽

Processing System ◽

Current Work ◽

Direct Connection ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Information Processing System ◽

Symbolic Information ◽

Target Article ◽

In his target article, Barsalou cites current work on emotion theory but does not explore its relevance for this project. The connection is worth pursuing, since there is a plausible case to be made that emotions form a distinct symbolic information processing system of their own. On some views, that system is argued to be perceptual: a direct connection with Barsalou's perceptual symbol systems theory. Also relevant is the hypothesis that there may be different modular subsystems within emotion and the perennial tension between cognitive and perceptual theories of emotion.

Perceptions of perceptual symbols

10.1017/s0140525x99532147 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 637-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 285

Author(s):

Lawrence W. Barsalou

Keyword(s):

Latent Semantic Analysis ◽

Semantic Analysis ◽

Causal Theory ◽

Category Structure ◽

Abstract Concepts ◽

Situated Action ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Perceptual Symbols ◽

Sensory Motor ◽

Various defenses of amodal symbol systems are addressed, including amodal symbols in sensory-motor areas, the causal theory of concepts, supramodal concepts, latent semantic analysis, and abstracted amodal symbols. Various aspects of perceptual symbol systems are clarified and developed, including perception, features, simulators, category structure, frames, analogy, introspection, situated action, and development. Particular attention is given to abstract concepts, language, and computational mechanisms.

Whither structured representation?

10.1017/s0140525x99412142 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 626-627

Author(s):

Arthur B. Markman ◽

Eric Dietrich

Keyword(s):

Argument Structure ◽

Symbol System ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

System View ◽

Perceptual Representations ◽

Perceptual Symbol Systems ◽

Structured Representation

The perceptual symbol system view assumes that perceptual representations have a role-argument structure. A role-argument structure is often incorporated into amodal symbol systems in order to explain conceptual functions like abstraction and rule use. The power of perceptual symbol systems to support conceptual functions is likewise rooted in its use of structure. On Barsalou's account, this capacity to use structure (in the form of frames) must be innate.

The TEC as a theory of embodied cognition

10.1017/s0140525x0143010x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 900-901 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniel C. Richardson ◽

Michael J. Spivey

Keyword(s):

Embodied Cognition ◽

Eye Movement ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Conceptual Representation ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Theory Of Event Coding ◽

We argue that the strengths of the Theory of Event Coding (TEC) can usefully be applied to a wider scope of cognitive tasks, and tested by more diverse methodologies. When allied with a theory of conceptual representation such as Barsalou's (1999a) perceptual symbol systems, and extended to data from eye-movement studies, the TEC has the potential to address the larger goals of an embodied view of cognition.

Mundane creativity in perceptual symbol systems.

Creative thought: An investigation of conceptual structures and processes. ◽

10.1037/10227-011 ◽

2004 ◽

pp. 267-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Lawrence W. Barsalou ◽

Jesse J. Prinz

Keyword(s):

Symbol Systems ◽

Music and Analogy

10.1093/oso/9780190653637.003.0002 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Lawrence M. Zbikowski

Keyword(s):

Systems Theory ◽

Dynamic Processes ◽

Embodied Experience ◽

Musical Sound ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Definition Of ◽

This chapter reviews recent research on analogy and explains how humans’ capacity for analogical thought shapes the production and comprehension of music. The chapter includes an introduction to Lawrence Barsalou’s perceptual symbol systems theory, which is used to explain how embodied experience informs analogical thought, especially that associated with music. Analogical reference, an idea adapted from Peirce’s concept of iconicity, is introduced, leading to a systematic definition of the sonic analogs for dynamic processes that provide the foundation for musical grammar. The chapter also explores how meaning can be constructed through sequences of musical sound.

Computational explorations of perceptual symbol systems theory

New Ideas in Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.newideapsych.2009.07.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 275-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Giovanni Pezzulo ◽

Gianguglielmo Calvi

Keyword(s):

Systems Theory ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Neural Correlates of Concreteness in Semantic Categorization

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.2007.19.8.1407 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 1407-1419 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Penny M. Pexman ◽

Ian S. Hargreaves ◽

Jodi D. Edwards ◽

Luke C. Henry ◽

Bradley G. Goodyear

Keyword(s):

Semantic Representation ◽

Dual Coding ◽

Abstract Concepts ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Semantic Categorization ◽

Context Availability ◽

Abstract Words ◽

In some contexts, concrete words (CARROT) are recognized and remembered more readily than abstract words (TRUTH). This concreteness effect has historically been explained by two theories of semantic representation: dual-coding [Paivio, A. Dual coding theory: Retrospect and current status. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 45, 255–287, 1991] and context-availability [Schwanenflugel, P. J. Why are abstract concepts hard to understand? In P. J. Schwanenflugel (Ed.), The psychology of word meanings (pp. 223–250). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1991]. Past efforts to adjudicate between these theories using functional magnetic resonance imaging have produced mixed results. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we reexamined this issue with a semantic categorization task that allowed for uniform semantic judgments of concrete and abstract words. The participants were 20 healthy adults. Functional analyses contrasted activation associated with concrete and abstract meanings of ambiguous and unambiguous words. Results showed that for both ambiguous and unambiguous words, abstract meanings were associated with more widespread cortical activation than concrete meanings in numerous regions associated with semantic processing, including temporal, parietal, and frontal cortices. These results are inconsistent with both dual-coding and context-availability theories, as these theories propose that the representations of abstract concepts are relatively impoverished. Our results suggest, instead, that semantic retrieval of abstract concepts involves a network of association areas. We argue that this finding is compatible with a theory of semantic representation such as Barsalou's [Barsalou, L. W. Perceptual symbol systems. Behavioral & Brain Sciences, 22, 577–660, 1999] perceptual symbol systems, whereby concrete and abstract concepts are represented by similar mechanisms but with differences in focal content.