The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers
During language processing, humans form complex embedded representations from sequential inputs. Here, we ask whether a “geometrical language” with recursive embedding also underlies the human ability to encode sequences of spatial locations. We introduce a novel paradigm in which subjects are expos...
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| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1553734X_v13_n1_p_Amalric |
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todo:paper_1553734X_v13_n1_p_Amalric2023-10-03T16:25:28Z The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers Amalric, M. Wang, L. Pica, P. Figueira, S. Sigman, M. Dehaene, S. adult analytical error comprehension DNA structure embedding exposure geometry human human experiment language rotation algorithm American Indian comprehension concept formation cultural anthropology education educational model male mathematical phenomena mathematics nomenclature physiology preschool child Adult Algorithms Child, Preschool Comprehension Concept Formation Culture Humans Indians, South American Language Male Mathematical Concepts Mathematics Models, Educational Terminology as Topic During language processing, humans form complex embedded representations from sequential inputs. Here, we ask whether a “geometrical language” with recursive embedding also underlies the human ability to encode sequences of spatial locations. We introduce a novel paradigm in which subjects are exposed to a sequence of spatial locations on an octagon, and are asked to predict future locations. The sequences vary in complexity according to a well-defined language comprising elementary primitives and recursive rules. A detailed analysis of error patterns indicates that primitives of symmetry and rotation are spontaneously detected and used by adults, preschoolers, and adult members of an indigene group in the Amazon, the Munduruku, who have a restricted numerical and geometrical lexicon and limited access to schooling. Furthermore, subjects readily combine these geometrical primitives into hierarchically organized expressions. By evaluating a large set of such combinations, we obtained a first view of the language needed to account for the representation of visuospatial sequences in humans, and conclude that they encode visuospatial sequences by minimizing the complexity of the structured expressions that capture them. © 2017 Amalric et al. Fil:Figueira, S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Sigman, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1553734X_v13_n1_p_Amalric |
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Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
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R-134 |
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Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
adult analytical error comprehension DNA structure embedding exposure geometry human human experiment language rotation algorithm American Indian comprehension concept formation cultural anthropology education educational model male mathematical phenomena mathematics nomenclature physiology preschool child Adult Algorithms Child, Preschool Comprehension Concept Formation Culture Humans Indians, South American Language Male Mathematical Concepts Mathematics Models, Educational Terminology as Topic |
| spellingShingle |
adult analytical error comprehension DNA structure embedding exposure geometry human human experiment language rotation algorithm American Indian comprehension concept formation cultural anthropology education educational model male mathematical phenomena mathematics nomenclature physiology preschool child Adult Algorithms Child, Preschool Comprehension Concept Formation Culture Humans Indians, South American Language Male Mathematical Concepts Mathematics Models, Educational Terminology as Topic Amalric, M. Wang, L. Pica, P. Figueira, S. Sigman, M. Dehaene, S. The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| topic_facet |
adult analytical error comprehension DNA structure embedding exposure geometry human human experiment language rotation algorithm American Indian comprehension concept formation cultural anthropology education educational model male mathematical phenomena mathematics nomenclature physiology preschool child Adult Algorithms Child, Preschool Comprehension Concept Formation Culture Humans Indians, South American Language Male Mathematical Concepts Mathematics Models, Educational Terminology as Topic |
| description |
During language processing, humans form complex embedded representations from sequential inputs. Here, we ask whether a “geometrical language” with recursive embedding also underlies the human ability to encode sequences of spatial locations. We introduce a novel paradigm in which subjects are exposed to a sequence of spatial locations on an octagon, and are asked to predict future locations. The sequences vary in complexity according to a well-defined language comprising elementary primitives and recursive rules. A detailed analysis of error patterns indicates that primitives of symmetry and rotation are spontaneously detected and used by adults, preschoolers, and adult members of an indigene group in the Amazon, the Munduruku, who have a restricted numerical and geometrical lexicon and limited access to schooling. Furthermore, subjects readily combine these geometrical primitives into hierarchically organized expressions. By evaluating a large set of such combinations, we obtained a first view of the language needed to account for the representation of visuospatial sequences in humans, and conclude that they encode visuospatial sequences by minimizing the complexity of the structured expressions that capture them. © 2017 Amalric et al. |
| format |
JOUR |
| author |
Amalric, M. Wang, L. Pica, P. Figueira, S. Sigman, M. Dehaene, S. |
| author_facet |
Amalric, M. Wang, L. Pica, P. Figueira, S. Sigman, M. Dehaene, S. |
| author_sort |
Amalric, M. |
| title |
The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| title_short |
The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| title_full |
The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| title_fullStr |
The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The language of geometry: Fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| title_sort |
language of geometry: fast comprehension of geometrical primitives and rules in human adults and preschoolers |
| url |
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1553734X_v13_n1_p_Amalric |
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