puc-header

Contingency of Semantic Generalization on Episodic Specificity: Variations Across Development

48 Pages Posted: 30 Nov 2020 Publication Status: Published

See all articles by Chi Thao Ngo

Chi Thao Ngo

Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for Human Development

Susan L. Benear

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Haroon Popal

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Ingrid Olson

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Nora S. Newcombe

Temple University - Department of Psychology

More...

Abstract

Popular computational models of memory have posited that the formation of new semantic knowledge relies on generalization from memories of specific but related episodes, at least when it occurs rapidly. This view predicts a contingency between new generalizations and episodic memory. However, very young children readily accumulate semantic knowledge at a time when their episodic memory capacities are fragile. This phenomenon challenges the notion that semantic knowledge acquisition and rapid generalization are necessarily gated by episodic memory. Here, we tested whether generalization depends on memory for individual episodes in children from 3 to 8 years of age and contrasted their performance with adults. We found that the interdependence of generalization and episodic memory changed across development. Young adults’ generalization success was contingent on their memories for an item linked to its episodic context. In contrast, generalization by young children was contingent on memories of the specific identity of items and the availability of the conceptual common ground linking related episodes. This age-related contrast favors models of memory that can account for the relations between rapid generalization and episodic memory in immature systems.

Keywords: episodic memory, generalization, memory development, context binding, pattern separation, memory specificity

Suggested Citation

Ngo, Chi Thao and Benear, Susan L. and Popal, Haroon and Olson, Ingrid and Newcombe, Nora S., Contingency of Semantic Generalization on Episodic Specificity: Variations Across Development. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3732375 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3732375
This version of the paper has not been formally peer reviewed.

Chi Thao Ngo (Contact Author)

Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for Human Development

Lentzeallee 94
D-14195 Berlin, 14195
Germany

Susan L. Benear

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Haroon Popal

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Ingrid Olson

Temple University - Department of Psychology ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Nora S. Newcombe

Temple University - Department of Psychology

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Click here to go to Cell.com

Paper statistics

Downloads
12
Abstract Views
347
PlumX Metrics