The project ‘Cognitive and Neural Computations of Semantics’ (CONNECTS) by Javier Ortiz-Tudela aims to understand how semantic knowledge influences our way of processing and remembering new information. Despite a large number of studies showing that semantic information modulates our cognition, it is still unclear in which direction this modulation occurs: some studies suggest that it helps us process familiar information more easily, while others indicate that it interferes by making new information redundant.
The main objective of CONNECTS is to resolve this apparent contradiction. The central idea is that the effect of semantic information depends on how well it fits the context and the task we are performing. For example, if we are asked to identify a cow in a meadow, the context helps us. But if, instead of identifying, we are asked for a quick reaction, the fact that the cow is very common in the meadow will hinder us.
To test this theory, the project will use various research methods: behavioral experiments, neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and EEG, and artificial neural networks. By combining these different methods, CONNECTS aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the neural and computational mechanisms underlying the effects of semantic information on cognition.
CONNECTS will examine how semantic information affects different mental processes such as perception, attention, and memory. Ultimately, the project aims to discover a fundamental principle that allows us to anticipate how semantics affects all these aspects of our cognition, offering a new perspective on the study of how the human mind makes sense of the world around us
More info: https://sites.google.com/view/connects-site/about-connects