Department of Psychology and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, T2N 1N4.
School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2AS, UK.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2023 Feb 13;378(1870):20210363. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0363. Epub 2022 Dec 26.
concepts, like and , are central features of our daily lives. Traditionally, abstract concepts are distinguished from other concepts in that they cannot be directly experienced through the senses. As such, they pose a challenge for strongly embodied models of semantic representation that assume a central role for sensorimotor information. There is growing recognition, however, that it is possible for meaning to be 'grounded' via cognitive systems, including those involved in processing language and emotion. In this article, we focus on the specific proposal that significance is a key feature in the representation of some concepts. We begin by reviewing recent evidence in favour of this proposal from the fields of psycholinguistics and neuroimaging. We then discuss the limited extent to which there is consensus about the definition of 'socialness' and propose essential next steps for research in this domain. Taking one such step, we describe preliminary data from an unprecedented large-scale rating study that can help determine how socialness is distinct from other facets of word meaning. We provide a backdrop of contemporary theories regarding semantic representation and social cognition and highlight important predictions for both brain and behaviour. This article is part of the theme issue 'Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences'.
概念，如 和 ，是我们日常生活的核心特征。传统上，抽象概念与其他概念的区别在于它们不能通过感官直接体验。因此，它们对假设感觉运动信息起核心作用的语义表示的强烈体现模型构成了挑战。然而，越来越多的人认识到，通过认知系统（包括参与处理语言和情感的系统），意义是有可能“扎根”的。在本文中，我们重点关注一个具体的建议，即 意义是某些概念表示的关键特征。我们首先回顾了来自心理语言学和神经影像学领域支持这一建议的最新证据。然后，我们讨论了关于“社会性”定义的共识程度有限，并提出了该领域研究的重要下一步。我们采取了其中的一个步骤，描述了一项前所未有的大规模评级研究的初步数据，该研究有助于确定社会性与单词含义的其他方面有何不同。我们提供了关于语义表示和社会认知的当代理论背景，并强调了对大脑和行为的重要预测。本文是“互动中的概念：社会参与和内心体验”主题特刊的一部分。
