Vocabulary Networks: Program-13
This simulation illustrates how a vocabulary network
responds when some of its words become harder to
activate.
The progran builds a 1000 word network and lets it
settle into a stable attactor state. The program then
implements nEv attrition events. Events raise the
activation threshold of one word.
THINGS TO DO.
Find a network with a low level of activation.
Set nEv to 20 and run the simulation.
How does the network respond to events?
Now increase the value of the nEv parameter.
What is the smallest value of nEv that causes your
network to move to a new attractor state?
QUESTIONS TO ASK.
How does your network respond to an attrition event?
Do all events have the same effect on your network?
Why do some events have no effect at all?
What implications does this set of behaviours have
for theories of L2 vocabulary acquisition?