Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Semantic Satiation
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Mar 22, 2023 Explore the curious phenomenon of semantic satiation, where saying a word too often makes it lose meaning. Discover its neurological roots and surprising connections to music enjoyment. Find out how repeated exposure can affect emotions and behaviors, even improving speech for some. Learn why taking breaks from overplayed songs can reignite their charm. This intricate blend of language, psychology, and sensory experience opens up fascinating discussions about how we engage with words and sounds.
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Semantic Satiation
- Semantic satiation describes the phenomenon where repeated exposure to a word diminishes its meaning.
- This offers a glimpse into the brain's energy conservation mechanism.
Early Description of Semantic Satiation
- Psychologists in 1907 described the experience of words losing meaning with repeated viewing.
- This loss of familiarity can make a word seem foreign or like a random string of letters.
Coining the Term
- Leon James coined the term "semantic satiation" in 1962.
- Other terms include "word decrement," "verbal transformation," and "extinction."