Structure of Semantic Memory Semantic memory is our knowledge of the world and language and how it can be seen as our internal dictionary and our encyclopedia together as a single entity. Since its origins, semantic memory has been compared to episodic memory. In contrast, episodic memory refers to temporary or spatial knowledge, identified in terms of personal experiences. Within these two systems there are many different models. I will discuss Eleanor Rosch's prototype approach feature comparison model, Anderson's ACT-R model, Collins and Loftus' network model, and the exemplar model. I will try to define each of the models through characterization methods, discuss the problems within each model, and also explain which model I like best. In 1970, Eleanor Rosch developed a prototype theory that was very different from the original semantics. This led to the set-theoretic approach of extensional or intentional semantics which evolved into a more definition-based model. (Rosch et al, 1976) According to Rosch the term prototype was defined during the study "Natural Categories" in 1973 and for the first time was defined as stimulus. A stimulus takes on a salient position in the formation of a category because it is the first stimulus to be associated with that category. Subsequently, he redefined it as the most central member of a category. “For example, when asked to give an example of the concept of furniture, the chair is mentioned more frequently than, for example, the stool. Prototype theory also plays a central role in linguistics, as part of the mapping from phonological structure to semantics. (Rosch et al, 1976) I like his model better because it actually deals with real life scenarios and real objects instead of dealing with f... middle of paper... c representations. Erlbaum: PsychologyMcCloskey, M. & Glucksberg, S. (1979). Decision making in verifying category membership claims: Implications for semantic memory models. Cognitive Psychology, 11(1), 1-37.McNamara, T.P., & Holbrook, J.B. 2003. Semantic memory and priming. Psychology manual. 445–474. Rumelhart, D. E., Hinton, G. E., & McClelland, J. L. (1986). A general framework for parallel distributed processing. In Rumelhart, D. E., & McClelland, J. L. and the PDP Research Group (1986) Eds. Parallel distributed processing: Explorations in the microstructure of cognition. Volume 1: Fundamentals. MIT Press: Cambridge, MA.Tulving, E., & Schacter, D. L. (1990). Priming and human memory systems. Bum.Science, 247, 301 – 306McCloskey, M.E. & Glucksberg, S. (1978). Natural categories: well-defined sets or fuzzy sets? Memory and cognition, 6(4), 462-472