Revealing the Role of Divergent Thinking and Fluid Intelligence in Children’s Semantic Memory Organization

The current theories suggest the fundamental role of semantic memory in creativity, mediating bottom-up (divergent thinking) and top-down (fluid intelligence) cognitive processes. However, the relationship between creativity, intelligence, and the organization of the semantic memory remains poorly-characterized in children. We investigated the ways in which individual differences in children’s semantic memory structures are influenced by their divergent thinking and fluid intelligence abilities. The participants (mean age 10) were grouped by their levels (high/low) of divergent thinking and fluid intelligence. We applied a recently-developed Network Science approach in order to examine group-based semantic memory graphs. Networks were constructed from a semantic fluency task. The results revealed that divergent thinking abilities are related to a more flexible structure of the semantic network, while fluid intelligence corresponds to a more structured semantic network, in line with the previous findings from the adult sample. Our findings confirm the crucial role of semantic memory organization in creative performance, and demonstrate that this phenomenon can be traced back to childhood. Finally, we also corroborate the network science methodology as a valid approach to the study of creative cognition in the developmental population.

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A Fan Effect for Creative Thought: Semantic Richness Facilitates Idea Quantity but Constrains Idea Quality

10.31234/osf.io/pfz2g ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Roger Beaty ◽

Yoed Kenett ◽

Richard W Hass ◽

Daniel L. Schacter

Keyword(s):

Semantic Memory ◽

Conceptual Knowledge ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Fluid Intelligence ◽

Semantic Network ◽

Semantic Knowledge ◽

Semantic Richness ◽

Related Information ◽

Fan Effect

Creative thinking has long been associated with spreading of activation through concepts within semantic memory. Despite its theoretical importance, little is yet known about how semantic memory structure facilitates and constrains idea production. We examine one potential influence on spreading activation during divergent thinking known as the fan effect: increasing knowledge about a concept leads to increasing interference from conceptually related information. Specifically, we tested whether cue association size—an index of semantic richness reflecting the average number of elements associated with a given concept—impacts the quantity (fluency) and quality (originality) of responses generated during the alternate uses task (AUT). We hypothesized that low-association AUT cues should benefit originality at the cost of fluency because such cues are embedded within a semantic network with fewer conceptual elements, thus yielding lesser interference from closely-related concepts. This hypothesis was confirmed in three experiments. Furthermore, we found an interaction with individual differences in fluid intelligence in the low-association AUT cues, suggesting that constraints of sparse semantic knowledge can be overcome with top-down intervention. The findings indicate that semantic richness differentially impacts the quality and quantity of generated ideas, and that cognitive control processes can facilitate idea production when conceptual knowledge is limited.

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The Role of Shape in Semantic Memory Organization of Objects

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169/a000284 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 181-197

Author(s):

Lisanne van Weelden ◽

Joost Schilperoord ◽

Marc Swerts ◽

Diane Pecher

Keyword(s):

Proactive Interference ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Visual Information ◽

Semantic Information ◽

Object Categorization ◽

Memory Organization ◽

Shape Information ◽

Semantic Categories

Visual information contributes fundamentally to the process of object categorization. The present study investigated whether the degree of activation of visual information in this process is dependent on the contextual relevance of this information. We used the Proactive Interference (PI-release) paradigm. In four experiments, we manipulated the information by which objects could be categorized and subsequently be retrieved from memory. The pattern of PI-release showed that if objects could be stored and retrieved both by (non-perceptual) semantic and (perceptual) shape information, then shape information was overruled by semantic information. If, however, semantic information could not be (satisfactorily) used to store and retrieve objects, then objects were stored in memory in terms of their shape. The latter effect was found to be strongest for objects from identical semantic categories.

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Remotely Close Associations: Openness to Experience and Semantic Memory Structure

10.31237/osf.io/42wex ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander P. Christensen

Keyword(s):

Semantic Memory ◽

Graphical Models ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Semantic Network ◽

Semantic Networks ◽

Openness To Experience ◽

Semantic Structure ◽

Semantic Network Analysis ◽

Creative Cognition ◽

Semantic Associations

Openness to experience—the enjoyment of novel experiences, ideas, and unconventional perspectives—has shown several connections to cognition that suggest open people might have different cognitive processes than those low in openness. People high in openness are more creative, have broader general knowledge, and show greater cognitive flexibility. The associative structure of semantic memory might be one such cognitive process that people in openness differ in. In this study, 497 people completed a measure of openness to experience and verbal fluency. Three groups of high (n = 115), moderate (n = 121), and low (n = 118) openness were created to construct semantic networks—graphical models of semantic associations that provide quantifiable representations of how these associations are organized—from their verbal fluency responses. The groups were compared on graph theory measures of their respective semantic networks. The semantic network analysis revealed that as openness increased, the rigidity of the semantic structure decreased and the interconnectivity increased, suggesting greater flexibility of associations. Semantic structure also became more condensed and had better integration, which facilitates open people’s ability to reach more unique associations. These results were supported by open people coming up with more individual and unique responses, starting with less conventional responses, and having a flatter frequency proportion slope than less open people. In summary, the semantic network structure of people high in openness to experience supports the retrieval of remote concepts via short associative pathways, which promotes unique combinations of disparate concepts that are key for creative cognition.

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Dynamic changes in semantic memory structure support successful problem-solving

10.31234/osf.io/38b4w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Théophile Bieth ◽

Yoed Kenett ◽

Marcela Ovando-Tellez ◽

Alizee Lopez-Persem ◽

Célia Lacaux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Semantic Network ◽

Dynamic Changes ◽

Before And After ◽

Memory Network ◽

The Difference ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Science Methodology ◽

Network Metrics

While problem-solving is central in our daily life, its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Restructuration (i.e., reinterpretation and reorganization of problem-related representations) is theoretically considered as one such mechanism, yet empirical evidence supporting it is scarce. We investigated restructuration as a mechanism underlying problem-solving, using network science methodology. We estimated the structure of participant’s individual semantic memory network before and after they attempted to solve a riddle. These networks represent the organization of solution-relevant and irrelevant terms as nodes, with edges representing the strength of relationship between them based on participants’ relatedness judgments. The difference in semantic network metrics between pre- and post-solving phases was used to quantify restructuration and predict successful problem-solving. Problem-solving was predicted by local restructuration of semantic network, only in edges and nodes that had been assessed as helpful to solve the problem. These results shed new light on the mental restructuring associated with problem-solving and provide a new method to quantify this restructuring.

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Membangun Fondasi Keilmuan Ekonomi Islam: Telaah Metodologi Muhammad Akram Khan

JES (Jurnal Ekonomi Syariah) ◽

10.30736/jes.v1i2.12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 152-170

Author(s):

Ahmad Ubaidillah

Keyword(s):

General Theory ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Inductive Method ◽

Ethical Values ◽

Institutional Conditions ◽

Faith Based ◽

Behavioral Parameters ◽

Science Methodology ◽

Islamic Society

Throughout my experience in tracking down and reading books on faith-based economics, in this case Islam, there are no books that specifically list the title of "Islamic economics". If there is, it is only initiated or introduced. Most books coming down to us still use the titles starting with the word, for example, system, concept, principle, or the doctrine of Islamic economics. Why do the authors of the book Islamic economics seem not dared to give his book title with label "science"? I presume that Islamic economics has not been considered as a science. In building a science, methodology is required. Islamic Economics also requires a well-established methodology to build the foundation of science. The study answers questions; how is methodology which is offered by Muhammad Akram Khan to build Islamic economics. The method used in this research is the study of literature with qualitative approach.The result of study concludes that Khan offers methodology of Islamic economics, if summarized, written as follows: First, Islamic economics uses a framework derived from the texts of divinity (revelation). Second, Islamic economics uses the inductive method, which gives witness to the truth or falsity assumptions and predictions about the two criteria of rationality and empirical evidence. Third, Islamic economy is built on ethical values such as justice, virtue, moderation, sacrifice, caring for others, in the analysis, as behavioral parameters. Fourth, Islamic economics is a normative discipline. Islamic Economics investigates ways and means to change the existing economy with Islamic economy. Fifth, Islamic economics ask different questions with conventional economics. Its attention is on welfare (falah) human and creating social and institutional conditions that maximize falah in society. Clearly, Islamic economics strongly supports research programs that help maximize falah. Furthermore, Khan elaborates several issues related to the methodology that often appears in the forum of Islamic economists. There are some problems that Khan proposes, they are the interaction with modern economics, the role of revelation, assuming ideal Islamic society, and the general theory of Islamic economics.

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Cognitive and affective benefits of colouring: Two randomized controlled crossover studies

10.31234/osf.io/r6w8v ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Nicola Jane Holt ◽

Leah Furbert ◽

Emily Sweetingham

Keyword(s):

Selective Attention ◽

Performance Measures ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Attention Task ◽

Creative Cognition ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Mindful Attention ◽

Crossover Studies ◽

And Performance ◽

Implicit Mood

The current research sought to replicate and extend work suggesting that coloring can reduce anxiety, asking whether coloring can improve cognitive performance. In two experiments undergraduates (N = 47; N = 52) colored and participated in a control condition. Subjective and performance measures of mood and mindfulness were included: an implicit mood test (Experiment 1) and a selective attention task (Experiment 2) along with a divergent thinking test. In both experiments coloring significantly reduced anxiety and increased mindfulness compared with control and baseline scores. Following coloring participants scored significantly lower on implicit fear, than the control condition, and significantly higher on selective attention and original ideation. Coloring may not only reduce anxiety, but also improve mindful attention and creative cognition.

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The Role of Network Science in Glioblastoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13051045 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1045

Author(s):

Marta B. Lopes ◽

Eduarda P. Martins ◽

Susana Vinga ◽

Bruno M. Costa

Keyword(s):

Personalized Medicine ◽

Drug Development ◽

Information Flow ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Network Science ◽

Cancer Genomics ◽

High Dimensional ◽

Network Discovery ◽

Software Implementations

Network science has long been recognized as a well-established discipline across many biological domains. In the particular case of cancer genomics, network discovery is challenged by the multitude of available high-dimensional heterogeneous views of data. Glioblastoma (GBM) is an example of such a complex and heterogeneous disease that can be tackled by network science. Identifying the architecture of molecular GBM networks is essential to understanding the information flow and better informing drug development and pre-clinical studies. Here, we review network-based strategies that have been used in the study of GBM, along with the available software implementations for reproducibility and further testing on newly coming datasets. Promising results have been obtained from both bulk and single-cell GBM data, placing network discovery at the forefront of developing a molecularly-informed-based personalized medicine.

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Twin-To-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Donor and Recipient and Their Subsequent Cognitive Functioning in Late Childhood as Juvenile Athletes—A Case Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052545 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2545

Author(s):

Ilona Bidzan-Bluma

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Late Childhood ◽

Semantic Fluency ◽

Motor Functioning ◽

Gross Motor Skills ◽

History Of

Objective: It is estimated that twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in 10–15% of monochorionic twin pregnancies. One of the fetuses takes on the role of donor and the other of recipient. The treatment administered involves serial amnioreduction and laser photocoagulation of the communicating blood vessels. After TTTS, children may have deficiencies in psychomotor functioning, in particular in cognitive functions, expressive language, and motor skills. Few scientific reports indicate that twins after TTTS do not demonstrate significant differences in tests which measure intellectual functioning. Methods: The cognitive functioning of twins in the late childhood period was compared using the following tools: an analysis of their medical history, an interview with their parents, and neuropsychological tests allowing the evaluation of their whole profile of cognitive functions. Case Study: Cognitive functioning in the late childhood period was analyzed in a pair of 11-year-old male twins (juvenile athletes), a donor and a recipient, who had developed TTTS syndrome in the prenatal period. Results: Comparison of the cognitive functioning profile of the donor and recipient revealed that children with a history of TTTS develop normally in terms of cognitive and motor functioning in late childhood. A comparative analysis of the donor and recipient was more favorable for the recipient, who had a higher level of general intelligence, visual–motor memory, and semantic fluency. Conclusions: The fact that both the donor and the recipient chose to pursue athletics suggests that gross motor skills are their strongest suit. Playing sports as a method of rehabilitation of cognitive function of children born prematurely after TTTS could contribute to the improvement of cognitive functioning.

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