Adult Fast-Mapping Memory Research Is Based on a Misinterpretation of Developmental-Word-Learning Data

O'Connor, Richard; Riggs, Kevin J.

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2019. Fast mapping is often used to refer to children’s remarkable ability to learn the meanings of new words with minimal exposure and in ambiguous contexts. It is one thing to claim that children are capable of learning words this way; it is another to claim that this ability relies on a specific fast-mapping neurocognitive mechanism that is critical for early word learning. Yet that claim has recently been made in adult memory research and used as a theoretical justification for research into an adult fast-mapping mechanism. In this review, we explain why the existence of such a mechanism in children is not supported by developmental research and explore the implications for adult fast-mapping data and research.

Citation

O'Connor, R., & Riggs, K. J. (2019). Adult Fast-Mapping Memory Research Is Based on a Misinterpretation of Developmental-Word-Learning Data. Current directions in psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society, 28(6), 528-533. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419858426

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 12, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 21, 2019
• Journal: Current Directions in Psychological Science
• Print ISSN: 0963-7214
• Publisher: Association for Psychological Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 528-533
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419858426
• Keywords: Word learning; Fast mapping; Hippocampus
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/2020547
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0963721419858426
• Contract Date: Jun 21, 2019