the theory that the connections between brain cells mediate thought and govern behaviour
connectionism in American English
(kəˈnekʃəˌnɪzəm)
noun
Psychology
the theory that all mental processes can be described as the operation of inherited or acquired bonds between stimulus and response
Word origin
[connection + -ism]-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)
Examples of 'connectionism' in a sentence
connectionism
Connectionism and constructivism originally stem from separate disciplines (mathematics and psychology, respectively).
Stephanie Lain 2016, 'Content-Based Instruction Understood in Terms of Connectionism and Constructivism',L2 Journalhttps://escholarship.org/uc/item/2cg5m3vs. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Taken separately or together, connectionism and constructivism have been especially influential in fields that deal with behavioral phenomena.
Stephanie Lain 2016, 'Content-Based Instruction Understood in Terms of Connectionism and Constructivism',L2 Journalhttps://escholarship.org/uc/item/2cg5m3vs. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)