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Keeping Those Words in Mind

Language, cognition and computation

Awe
Drawings by Children Reveal Their Transformative Experience

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on June 13, 2024

Feelings of awe and wonder—for instance, experienced in a virtual reality space journey—cannot only be measured with questionnaires but also with children's drawings.

Feelings of awe and wonder—for instance, experienced in a virtual reality space journey—cannot only be measured with questionnaires but also with children's drawings.

Cognition
How Do Computers and Humans Process Language?

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on March 8, 2024

Similarities and differences between how humans and computers process language don't lie in the architecture of the processing system but in the language system itself.

Similarities and differences between how humans and computers process language don't lie in the architecture of the processing system but in the language system itself.

Education
How Education Can CAVE In

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on August 24, 2023

VR offers great opportunities for education, enabling exploration and interaction, but not always collaboration. One approach may bring together all the benefits.

VR offers great opportunities for education, enabling exploration and interaction, but not always collaboration. One approach may bring together all the benefits.

Intelligence
The Intelligence of AI

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on June 1, 2023

AI is often confused with human intelligence. The source of the confusion is the psychological definition of intelligence.

AI is often confused with human intelligence. The source of the confusion is the psychological definition of intelligence.

Environment
Laws of Human Behavior

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on September 15, 2022

While we think we can behave as freely as possible, our behavior is constrained by laws that show remarkable patterns.

While we think we can behave as freely as possible, our behavior is constrained by laws that show remarkable patterns.

Cognition
How We Extract Meaning From Language

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on September 13, 2021

How are humans so good at learning and understanding language? Among the various explanations, one tends to be ignored: the language system itself.

How are humans so good at learning and understanding language? Among the various explanations, one tends to be ignored: the language system itself.

Cognition
A GPS for the Past Can Be Found in Language

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on June 4, 2021

Wonder where that ancient city was located or where to find that archaeological excavation site? The way in which city names are mentioned in historical texts could help us estimate their actual location.

Wonder where that ancient city was located or where to find that archaeological excavation site? The way in which city names are mentioned in historical texts could help us estimate their actual location.

Cognition
How Context Helps Us Understand the Meaning of Words

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on June 1, 2021

Ever wondered why we are so good at language processing? Perhaps the answer does not only lie in our minds but in the language system that provides a useful cognitive shortcut.

Ever wondered why we are so good at language processing? Perhaps the answer does not only lie in our minds but in the language system that provides a useful cognitive shortcut.

Attention
How Many Words and Sentences Do We Know?

Max Louwerse Ph.D. on April 11, 2021

We all excel in keeping words in mind, to speak, read, and write. How many words and sentences do we know? It turns out a lot. Some 60,000 words and some sextillion sentences.

We all excel in keeping words in mind, to speak, read, and write. How many words and sentences do we know? It turns out a lot. Some 60,000 words and some sextillion sentences.