Constraining questions about the organisation and representation of conceptual knowledge

Abstract

In this article we assume a domain-specific organisation of conceptual knowledge and consider two questions: How does this architecture constrain further assumptions that might be made regarding (1) the organisation of conceptual knowledge in the brain, and (2) the representation of conceptual knowledge in the brain? Data from category-specific semantic deficits, functional neuroimaging, and apraxia are recruited in attempt to clarify these questions. It is shown that the domain-specific hypothesis can account for the extant facts. Furthermore, we outline one possible theoretical framework that imposes empirical constraints on proposals that might be advanced in response to the two questions raised above.