A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

module and how it communicates with other inter-related modules is unknown
(Ellis and Young, 1996). The development of computational concepts may be
one avenue to help explain the internal workings of the model through computer
simulations (Cohen, 2000; Ellis and Young, 1996). Cognitive psychologists in
using a connectionist approach attempt to build computerised models of
cognition which are thought to have properties of neural information processing
(Braisby and Gellatly, 2005). Cohen (2000) cautions however that while
connectionist models have some properties in common with neurones they are
not neuronal equivalent. Connectionist models are thought to operate at a level
of learned automatic processes without conscious thought (Smolensky, 1988)
and while damaged processing may be simulated it is not in itself a theory
(McCloskey, 2004). However connectionist models provide insights into ways a
damaged system could repair itself during recovery as it can model the learning
process including loss of learning through damage and relearning during the
recovery process (Cohen, 2000). The predictive power of connectionist
modelling is thought to be enhanced due to the explanation of cognitive
processing through learning (Lambon-Ralph, 2004).
While the cognitive neuropsychological approach cannot adequately capture the
dynamic process of learning, it does inform the outcome of the learning
procedure in terms of providing information about the depth and characteristics
of knowledge acquired during the learning of skills (in this case language
domain-specific in terms of learning new vocabulary).
6.5.6 Summary
The discussion in Chapter 2 identified a number of requirements that a suitable
theoretical model of language would need to provide in order to be a useful tool
for this investigation. A cognitive neuropsychology model was chosen and its
usefulness in fulfilling the criteria for this investigation has been individually
discussed with evidence above. The model provided a framework for assessing
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