Open Peer Commentary Barsalou: Perpetual symbol systems
Development, consciousness, and the perception/mental representation distinction
Lorraine McCune a1 a1 Department of Educational Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
mccune@rci.rutgers.edu
Abstract
Perceptual symbol systems provide a welcome alternative to
amodal encapsulated means of cognitive processing. However, the
relations between perceived reality and internal mentation require a
more differentiated approach, reflecting both developmental differences
between infant and adult experience and qualitative differences between
consciously perceived and mentally represented contents. Neurological
evidence suggests a developmental trajectory from initial perceptual
states in infancy to a more differentiated consciousness from two
years of age on. Children's processing of and verbal expressions
regarding motion events provides an example of the changing capacity for
mental experience.
