Predicting the N400 ERP component using the Sentence Gestalt model trained on a large scale corpus

The N400 component of the event-related brain potential is widely used to investigate language and meaning processing. However, despite much research, the component's functional basis remains actively debated. Recent work showed that the update of the predictive representation of sentence meaning (semantic update, or SU) generated by the Sentence Gestalt model (Mcclelland1 et al. 1989) consistently displayed a similar pattern to the N400 amplitude in a series of conditions known to modulate this event-related potential. These results led Rabovsky et al. (2018) to suggest that the N400 might reflect change in a probabilistic representation of meaning corresponding to an implicit semantic prediction error. However, a limitation of this work is that the model was trained on a small artificial training corpus and thus could not be presented with the same naturalistic stimuli presented in empirical experiments. In the present study, we overcome this limitation and directly model the amplitude of the N400 elicited during naturalistic sentence processing by using as predictor the SU generated by a Sentence Gestalt model trained on a large corpus of texts. The results reported in this paper corroborate the hypothesis that the N400 component reflects the change in a probabilistic representation of meaning after every word presentation. Further analyses demonstrate that the SU of the Sentence Gestalt model and the amplitude of the N400 are influenced similarly by the stochastic and positional properties of the linguistic input.

Chemical signatures of honey bee group membership develop via a socially-modulated innate process

Large social insect colonies exhibit a remarkable ability for recognizing group members via colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) pheromonal signatures. Previous work suggested that in some ant species colony-specific signatures are generated through a “gestalt” mechanism via the passive transfer and homogenization of CHCs across all individual members of the colony. In contrast, we demonstrate that nestmate recognition cues of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) mature in foragers via a sequence of stereotypic age-dependent quantitative and qualitative chemical transitions, which are driven by intrinsic biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, in contrast to predictions of the “Gestalt” model, nestmate recognition cues in honey bee colonies do not represent a passive “average” signature that is carried and recognized by all colony members. Instead, specific colony members develop the relevant cues via an innately-determined developmental program that can be modulated by colony-specific social environmental factors.

Ilumina-Ação: diálogos entre a Gestalt-terapia e o Zen-Budismo

The main purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between Gestalt-therapy and Zen-Buddhism universes, based on a conceptual analysis for contributing to Gestalt-therapy theoretical development. Gestalt model has been adopted as investigation methodology using the creation and destruction figures (gestalten). Initially it was determined Perls as the start up reference or initial figure, due to his interest in Zen-Buddhism. The analysis of his collected works and auto-biography has defined his contact with Buddhism and, as consequence, its reverberation in Gestalt-therapy creation. Within Gestalt-therapy theoretical content, some concepts are related to Zen and others illustrate a close interaction, as the awareness flow/continuum awareness and meditation. Both Gestalt-therapy and Zen-Buddhism have been investigated on the human being conceptual analysis perspective, as well as “self”, ‘I’, ‘here and now’, temporality, addressing their similarities and differences. Situations captured from Gestalt-Therapy clinical practice, stories and Zen-Buddhism ‘mondos’ have contributed for the understanding of concepts presented in this study. This relationship establishment has allowed the identification of main articulation structures between Gestalt-therapy and Zen-Buddhism, pointing out the fundamental topics that differentiate their identities

Prosodie et émergence du sens : propositions pour une étude cognitive de l’intonation

This paper aims at giving English intonation a driving role in the building and the emergence of meaning. It presents four propositions, going from the perception of intonation to its role in the representation of meaning. First, the concept of intonational form, based on the gestalt model of good form, is introduced. Second, the fundamental characteristic of intonational form is its dynamic nature. Third, intonation is positioned in the semantic layer, and is on par with the other linguistic components (syntax, lexicon, grammar). Finally, it is the evolution of the verbal scene that gives intonation its fundamental role.