Chapter 3. Neural complexity meets lexical complexity
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John H. Schumann
Abstract
Complexity Theory provides avenues for understanding many aspects of language acquisition and use, including the language neuroscientists use to label the brain and to think about its structure and functions. A major concern for neuroscience has been the mapping of structure to function. The tendency has been to seek one-to-one mappings between the two, but advances in research have revealed that the brain is characterized by degeneracy in which two or more architecturally different structures can serve the same function. Thus, the brain can operate with many-to-one mappings. This complexity in neural structure is met with the complexity of synonymy in the lexicon of human language that is used to describe the brain. In this chapter I discuss the relationship between degeneracy and complexity and draw an analogy between neural degeneracy and lexical complexity, specifically as seen in synonymy.
Abstract
Complexity Theory provides avenues for understanding many aspects of language acquisition and use, including the language neuroscientists use to label the brain and to think about its structure and functions. A major concern for neuroscience has been the mapping of structure to function. The tendency has been to seek one-to-one mappings between the two, but advances in research have revealed that the brain is characterized by degeneracy in which two or more architecturally different structures can serve the same function. Thus, the brain can operate with many-to-one mappings. This complexity in neural structure is met with the complexity of synonymy in the lexicon of human language that is used to describe the brain. In this chapter I discuss the relationship between degeneracy and complexity and draw an analogy between neural degeneracy and lexical complexity, specifically as seen in synonymy.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- List of figures xi
- List of tables xiii
- Acknowledgements xv
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Complexity Theory 11
- Chapter 2. Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory 51
- Chapter 3. Neural complexity meets lexical complexity 59
- Chapter 4. Conceptualizing learner characteristics in a complex, dynamic world 79
- Chapter 5. The emerging need for methods appropriate to study dynamic systems 97
- Chapter 6. Lost in state space? 123
- Chapter 7. Complex Dynamic Systems Theory and L2 pedagogy 143
- Chapter 8. Language destabilization and (re-)learning from a Complexity Theory perspective 163
- Chapter 9. A neuropsycholinguistic approach to complexity 191
- Chapter 10. Energy conservation in SLA 209
- Index 233
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- List of figures xi
- List of tables xiii
- Acknowledgements xv
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Complexity Theory 11
- Chapter 2. Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory 51
- Chapter 3. Neural complexity meets lexical complexity 59
- Chapter 4. Conceptualizing learner characteristics in a complex, dynamic world 79
- Chapter 5. The emerging need for methods appropriate to study dynamic systems 97
- Chapter 6. Lost in state space? 123
- Chapter 7. Complex Dynamic Systems Theory and L2 pedagogy 143
- Chapter 8. Language destabilization and (re-)learning from a Complexity Theory perspective 163
- Chapter 9. A neuropsycholinguistic approach to complexity 191
- Chapter 10. Energy conservation in SLA 209
- Index 233
