The University of New Mexico Department of Psychology and Department of Linguistics are hosting “Why We’re So Smart,” a colloquium by Northwestern University’s Dedre Gentner on Friday, April 25, from 3-4 p.m. in Hodgin Hall’s Bobo Room.
Gentner will discuss human cognitive abilities and her view that two contributors to human intelligence are analogical ability, an inborn capacity for relational learning that is shared, to some degree, “with other great apes,” and language, especially relational language, which consolidates and augments that arise from analogical processes. In her presentation, Gentner will present evidence that these analogical processes are instrumental in learning new relational terms, and reciprocally, relational language fosters analogical processing.
For more information about the colloquium contact Jessica Slocum at (505) 277-3890.