The Evolution
2
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that it is possible to
deduce the structure of human semantic memory by mathematically
analyzing the environment which through evolution has shaped it.
The theory arrived at is similar to the spreading-activation theories
of Quillian, and Collins and Loftus, but it contrasts with the above
in that it involves a rigidly restricted activation that employs
two distinct types of linking and three distinct types of inter-
section search. These three types of intersection are then used to
explain the facilitation of lexical decisions, the nature of polysemy
riddles, several production experiments by Loftus, as well as the
effect of word order on meaning and paired-associate learning.