Monti, M. M., & Osherson, D. N. (2012). Logic, language and the brain. Brain research, 1428, 33-42.

Logic, Language and the Brain

1. Left sylvian fissure (including inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortices). Some aspects of communicative competence have been shown to rely on areas that fall outside of this region, but these are the central components.


Structural Areas for Human Linguistic Capacity

1. Core Regions: Left rostrolateral and medial prefrontal cortices. The function of these regions is the construction and derivation of logical operations.
2. Content-independent Support Areas: Prefrontal and parietal regions that are not core regions. These areas functions supportively such as representing argument structures and general cognitive support like allocating attention. 
3. Content-dependent Support Areas: Content-dependent support areas functions to buffer lexical content of logical arguments. These areas are content-dependent; for example, if the argument is talking about a face, then the inferior temporal cortex is involved. 


Structural Areas for Human Deductive Reasoning

1. Method: Compare activations elicited by complex vs. simpler inferences.
2. Reasoning: If linguistic structures are involved in inferential processes, complex deductions should recruit them significantly more than simpler ones; if not, then activations in language structures would be similar.
3. Results: Neural mechanisms underlying logic inferences dissociate from neural mechanisms underlying linguistic operations. Ideas are first unpacked into non-linguistic representations and then submitted to other regions for logical processing. 

Experimental Setup: Logic, Language and the Brain

1. The role of language in deductive reasoning is confined to an initial stage

Johns Hopkins University

This paper tries to compare impact of Hybrid map and Concept map on Reading Comprehension, Delayed Reading Comprehension, Free Recall and Delayed Free Recall. In this paper reading material were taken from ACT exams.

Hybrid Map: Visualizing Relations Between Paragraphs Improves Readability, Reading Comprehension, and Learning Compared to Novakian Concept Maps

Reading materials from (American college testing) has been used in several studies as a standard materials for running different experiments. Because they are supposed to be a reasonable difficulty so that all college student can answer them.

ACT reading materials as a standard material for experiments

- Providing participants with no incentive or reward
- Taking per-test MCQ
- Providing Sample passage before reading actual map
- Free Recall Scoring
- Qualitative Coding of feedback

Experiment set-up for Hybrid map paper

1. Concept maps improve reading comprehension
2. Text summaries are superior to text
3. Headings help comprehension
4. Left-to-right orientation improves readability
5. Pictorial 2D representation of text improves comprehension (DCT)
6. Insufficient detail and richness in Novakian concept maps

Hybrid map design rational

Language used in academic, scientific literature is not entirely standardized but has several characteristics and conventions that are commonly used. It is distinct from narrative or informal writing.


Academic Language in Science

A quasi-experimental studies performed upon 1st year medicine students, studying the effect of concept-map learning compared to normal learning on grades in two language classes (English and Romanian), showed that concept mapping significantly increased students' grade on language learning over a period of 6 months. 

They utilized concept maps that involved: first, developing a question/target topic; second, developing 10-20 words that are put into boxes hierarchically; and thied, connecting these boxes with explanatory arrows, hierarchically, then with expanding associations. Results are then measured through the students’ grades 3 and 6 months later. 


Effect of Anatomy Learning through Concept Mapping on Long Term Memory

Model for visualizing and understanding how readers ingest and comprehend a text. In the model, reading is envisioned as a cyclical process by which a reader engages with ideas in the text. Each cycle represents a new sentence or proposition. During a cycle concepts fluctuate into activation when they obtain the attention of the reader. Concepts that are activated throughout the cycles that occur while reading result in an episodic memory representation of the text or situation model. 


Landscape Model

- Hypertext externalizes and augments the human capacity to make meaningful connections 
- Three drivers of change
- Theories behind hypertext
- Examples of hypertext applications 
- The benefits of hypertext systems

Hypertext design rationale

- Definition of Theory 
- DCT supports our design 

Dual Coding Theory

Language and Deduction 

An instructional design theory based on human cognitive architecture.

Cognitive Load Theory (CLT)

- For whom is a picture worth a thousand words? Extensions of a dual-coding theory of multimedia learning

Dual coding theory - experiments

Knowledge that is conscious and can be verbalized: facts, data, and pieces of information, such as mathematical or scientific facts.

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