Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Concepts and Prototypes01:24

Concepts and Prototypes

589
The human nervous system handles vast amounts of information by translating sensory stimuli into neural impulses, which the brain processes, creating thoughts expressed through language or stored as memories. The brain also synthesizes information from emotions and memories, which significantly influence thoughts and behaviors. This intricate process creates a comprehensive mental picture.
The brain organizes this information using concepts, which are mental categories grouping linguistic data,...
589
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

802
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
802
Natural and Artificial Concepts01:24

Natural and Artificial Concepts

606
In psychology, concepts can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural concepts are formed through direct or indirect experiences. For example, consider the concept of snow. If you live in a place with regular snowfall, such as Essex Junction, Vermont, you know snow through direct experiences. You’ve seen it fall, touched it, shoveled it, and played in it. You recognize its texture, appearance, and even its smell. In contrast, if you live on an island like Saint...
606
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

497
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
497
Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

2.2K
Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
2.2K
Organization of the Brain01:30

Organization of the Brain

2.8K
The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
2.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neural Representations of Death-Related Concepts Identify Conceptual Alteration of Self in Suicidal Youth.

Human brain mapping·2026
Same author

The neural and cognitive basis of expository text comprehension.

NPJ science of learning·2024
Same author

Retraction Note: Machine learning of neural representations of suicide and emotion concepts identifies suicidal youth.

Nature human behaviour·2023
Same author

Similarities and differences in the neural representations of abstract concepts across English and Mandarin.

Human brain mapping·2022
Same author

Publisher Correction: The neuroscience of advanced scientific concepts.

NPJ science of learning·2021
Same author

The neuroscience of advanced scientific concepts.

NPJ science of learning·2021
Same journal

Segmentation of the parasagittal dura mater on multi-center 3D-FLAIR MRI.

NeuroImage·2026
Same journal

Spatial frequency channels implement a mental ruler in spatial vision.

NeuroImage·2026
Same journal

Exploring the Link Between Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Measured Brain Diffusivity During Wakefulness and Sleep Macrostructure in the Elderly.

NeuroImage·2026
Same journal

Closed-loop adaptation of transcranial magnetic stimulation intensity with electroencephalography feedback.

NeuroImage·2026
Same journal

Volumetric postmortem MRI of the medial temporal lobe in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders: methodological advances and implications for in vivo biomarker development.

NeuroImage·2026
Same journal

Neural responses to equity and inequity when receiving vicarious rewards for self and charity during adolescence.

NeuroImage·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.5K

A brain-based account of "basic-level" concepts.

Andrew James Bauer1, Marcel Adam Just2

  • 1Sidney Smith Hall, Dept. of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G3, Canada.

Neuroimage
|August 23, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Basic-level concepts, like "bird", are broadly represented in the brain, integrating concrete and abstract information. This neural representation explains their everyday advantage over more specific concepts.

Keywords:
Basic levelLevel of abstractionMVPANeural representationObject conceptfMRI

More Related Videos

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

12.9K
Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

5.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.5K
Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

12.9K
Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

5.4K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Semantic Representation

Background:

  • The concept of basic-level categories, introduced by Rosch et al. (1976), remains a key topic in cognitive science.
  • Understanding the neural underpinnings of concept representation is crucial for cognitive theories.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated the brain basis for the advantages of basic-level concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a brain-based account of how object concepts at the basic level of specificity are represented.
  • To compare the neural representations of basic-level and subordinate-level object concepts.
  • To investigate the relationship between neural similarity and typicality for basic-level concepts and their subordinates.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized machine learning techniques to analyze functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data.
  • Examined neural representations of object concepts at both basic and subordinate levels of abstraction.
  • Assessed the spatial distribution and semantic content encoded in brain activity.

Main Results:

  • Basic-level concept representation (e.g., bird) was spatially broad, involving sensorimotor, language, and heteromodal areas.
  • Subordinate-level concept representation (e.g., robin) was more localized in perceptual areas.
  • Basic-level concepts were neurally similar to their typical subordinates (e.g., bird and robin) but not atypical ones (e.g., bird and woodpecker).

Conclusions:

  • The brain-based representation of basic-level concepts integrates both concrete (sensorimotor) and abstract (language, integrative) semantic information.
  • This broad neural distribution underlies the functional advantages of basic-level concepts in everyday cognition.
  • Findings offer an enriched, neuroscientific perspective on the nature and utility of basic-level concepts.