Evidence for fast mapping in adults - Moderating factors yet need to be identified

Abstract

Cooper, Greve, and Henson (this issue) discuss if fast mapping (FM) is dissociable from other learning procedures in adults. We strongly agree that drawing conclusions on cortical integration from recognition accuracy is questionable in healthy young adults. Additionally, we advise against interpreting explicit measures in patient studies if residual hippocampal functioning cannot be excluded or extra-hippocampal structures are also affected. Due to promising fMRI data patterns and confounds in studies reporting no evidence for implicitly measured semantic integration, we suggest that factors moderating FM learning success need to be systematically identified rather than doubting rapid cortical integration through FM.

Keywords: Fast mapping; associative memory; consolidation; feature overlap; semantic integration.