The role of language in multi-dimensional categorization: Evidence from transcranial direct current stimulation and exposure to verbal labels

From words-as-mappings to words-as-cues: the role of language in semantic knowledge

“…In subsequent work, we have confirmed earlier reports that this type of "low-dimensional" categorization is impaired in individuals with anomic aphasia (Lupyan & Mirman, 2013). In another test of the idea that verbal labels promote the formation of low-dimensional categories, Perry and Lupyan (2014) had participants learn simple visual categories of "minerals" (Gabor patches) defined by two dimensions: orientation (more vs. less steep) and spatial frequency (higher vs. lower contrast). The space of exemplars was set up so that participants could use a single dimension-either orientation or spatial frequency-or integrate both dimensions.…”

“…However, some insight come from studies in which linguistic factors are experimentally manipulated while people attempt to learn new categories or use existing knowledge to recognize or make inferences about familiar categories. Below, we briefly review evidence that, under the influence of language, semantic knowledge may become more categorical with consequences for behavior ranging from basic perception to reasoning (see Lupyan, 2012Lupyan, , 2016Lupyan & Bergen, 2015;Perry & Lupyan, 2014 for more extended discussion.). To foreshadow: Language appears to promote abstraction.…”

Lateralized task shift effects in Broca's and Wernicke's regions and in visual word form area are selective for conceptual content and reflect trial history

“…Wernicke's region, usually defined as the posterior part of the superior temporal cortex behind the primary auditory cortex (Geschwind, 1970;Perry and Lupyan, 2014;Price, 2000), is traditionally thought to be involved in the recognition of patterns of spoken language (Geschwind, 1970;Wernicke, 1874). However, discussions similar to those for Broca's region have been led on the exact function, location and even existence of Wernicke's region (e.g.…”

“…Binder et al, 1996;Bogen and Bogen, 1976;Dronkers et al, 2004;Turken and Dronkers, 2011;Wise et al, 2001). Recent studies have suggested that Wernicke's region plays a role in the mapping between visual and linguistic representations of categories (Perry and Lupyan, 2014) and indeed perhaps the most compelling argument in favor of the posterior temporal cortex being involved in linguistic processing is the location right between auditory and visual cortices (Geschwind, 1970), making it intuitively appealing to believe that it serves a function as an associative region for input that link the two perceptual modalities.…”

Recognising a zebra from its stripes and the stripes from “zebra”: the role of verbal labels in selecting category relevant information

“…Down-regulation of neural activity over Wernicke's area using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (as a means of inhibiting neural processing involved in naming (see e.g. Price, 2000)) tends to promote forming a more dense category structure (Perry & Lupyan, 2014). Taken together, evidence from studies of children, typical adults, and adults with aphasia, suggest that labelling supports the ability to represent sparse categories.…”