Web Activity 8.3 Tinkering with models and making predictions

In Chapter 8, Section 1, we considered some of the details that we needed to make explicit in a simple model of word recognition. In particular, we looked at the motivation for including inhibitory links in addition to excitatory links, as shown in Figure 8.3. Notice that in Figure 8.3B, inhibitory arrows are shown both between levels, in connecting sounds or letters to words, and within levels, specifically among word representations. Are both types of inhibitory links necessary?

What if your model only had bottom-up inhibitory connections, or only lateral inhibition between word representations? Explore the different predictions made by each of these models.

Hint: Consider the impact of hearing nonwords (such as beal) versus real words.