Crank up your VCRs. This should be one for the ages. Professor Yanchao Bi will be visiting us. Dr. Bi is an extraordinary cognitive neuroscientist on loan from her post at Beijing Normal University.
Dr. Bi's talk is titled:
October 26, 2017 @ 530pm: Bradford Mahon, Ph.D.
Dr. Brad Mahon is Editor-in-Chief of Cognitive Neuropsychology, one of my all time favorites. He is also a world leader in the study of semantic memory. This man does it all -- speech production, a handlebar mustache, you name it. I've been wanting to meet him for a decade, and it looks like I'll finally get the chance on 10.26 at 530p.
Dr. Mahon's talk is titled:
What is the difference between concept representation and concept use?
March 23, 2017 at 530p: Dr. Penny Pexman, Ph.D.
I am such a big fan of Professor Pexman's work across so many different domains of semantics and language (e.g., abstract words, sound symbolism). Professor Pexman's talk is titled:
Lexical-Semantic Processing: New Insights from Scrabble Experts and Megastudies
It is now well established that the process of generating meaning from print varies as a function of both item-level (e.g., word concreteness) and task-level influences (e.g., the particular decision category chosen in a semantic decision task). Yet the mixed findings observed across studies for effects of dimensions like word valence and ambiguity suggest additional unexplained variability in semantic processing. I will explore the possibility that some of that variability might be explained by individual differences in semantic processing, even among skilled readers. This will include studies with participants who have extraordinary lexical knowledge (competitive Scrabble players) and analyses of the Calgary Semantic Decision Project dataset that examine whether semantic processing varies as a function of individual differences even among the standard undergraduate population. Results provide new insights about semantic representation for concrete and abstract words, about the effects of emotion and ambiguity, and are consistent with a dynamic and experience-driven account of semantic processing.
November 14, 2016 at 530p: Chris Westbury, Ph.D.
Chris Westbury is our next speaker. Chris and I go way back and have published a number of papers together.
On Quining Semantics: Why we must, and how we might
In his 1988 paper, 'Quining Qualia', the philosopher Dan Dennett coined the term ‘to quine’ (after his mentor Willard Quine) to mean ‘to resolutely deny the existence or importance of something real or significant’. The idea that quining semantics might be either desirable or possible will sound strange to many, but has historical roots going back to Wittgenstein’s (1953) ‘Philosophical Investigations’, which demonstrated how slippery the idea of word meaning is. In this talk I will briefly lay out the argument that lexical semantics cannot be one single thing, and focus on two recent empirical studies looking at two disparate aspects of semantic-like processing: a large-scale study on sound symbolism, and a principal components analysis of Google’s skip-gram matrix that highlights the affective aspect of semantic experience.
February 18, 2016 at 5:30pm: Alex Martin, PhD
Wow! We are so fortunate to have Dr. Alex Martin, a titan in the field of semantic memory, as our next speaker.
Talk title:
Five things I know about Concepts and the Brain. Plus, the ATL: It’s not what you think!
August 6, 2015: Gabriella Vigliocco, PhD
The Philadelphia Semantics Network is thrilled to host Professor Gabriella Vigliocco from University College London. Talk title TBA. Time: 5:30p on 8/6/15.
April 23, 2015 at 5:30pm: Barbara Malt, PhD
I am delighted to announce that one of my very favorite semantics researchers, Professor Barbara Malt, will be giving our next talk, titled:
Naming and Knowing: Representing the world in language and thought
We're on for 5:30pm on 4/23 (Thursday). If you are interested in attending, please email Jamie Reilly -- reillyj@temple.edu
October 2014 Meeting: David Kemmerer, Ph.D.
I am so psyched for our next speaker, Professor David Kemmerer. David's talk will be on October 27, 2014 @ 530pm.
June 2014 PSN: Matthew Lambon Ralph, PhD
June 19 (Thursday), 530PM
Matt Lambon Ralph is in the hizzle for the next Philadelphia Semantic Network meeting. My crystal ball tells me it's going to be a great talk.
April 2014 PSN: Ken McRae, PhD
Ken McRae is our next speaker. Ken will be presenting the following talk:
A computational account of the N400 based on prediction error in an attractor network model of semantic memory
Date: Thursday April 24, 2014, Time: 530p
Place: My house in Mt Airy -- email reillyj@temple.edu for directions.
Inaugural meeting: Richard Binney, ph.d.
The inaugural meeting of the Philadelphia Semantics Network will be January 23, 2014 (Thurs) at my haunted house in Mount Airy at 5:30PM.
Dr. Richard Binney is our first speaker. His talk is titled: