Cognitive Science
Subject: A model of similarity in STM
Supervisor: Prof. Anat Maril
Abstract: We propose a mechanism suggested to explain major semantic-based symptoms often observed in schizophrenia patients: hyper abstraction and over concreteness. We will introduce a mathematical model of the semantic space and using it, we will try to demonstrate and support our hypotheses regarding the relationship between stress – a major precursor of schizophrenia – and the number and sharpness of attributes encoded when considering objects and the perceived similarity between them, a cognitive process that is at the heart of abstraction. We are planning to conduct experiments to empirically test the model’s assumptions and main hypotheses, using both behavioral and brain imaging measures. We hope to gain important insight into the semantic-related symptoms of schizophrenia by testing the following main idea: elevated stress leads to a reduction in the number of attributes considered when processing objects, which in turn influences perceived similarity between objects (and hence the basic process of abstraction).
Bio: My name is Yinon Nachshon, married to Yael and father to Nevo and Amir. I am a PhD student in Dr. Anat Maril's neurocognitive lab in cognitive science department. I am a graduate of the Technion’s medicine faculty (MD) and math faculty (BSc in mathematics). I am interested in similarity and dimensionality in the semantic space, mathematical modeling of the semantic space and the representation of this space in the brain, and in the connection between the dimensionality of the semantic space and Schizophrenia.
Presidential Stipend 2016/17