Figure 6.

Memory consolidation of novel color words learned via lexical association. Before learning, L1 color words and their corresponding color concepts are linked via stable, long-established connections. During learning, L1 words and novel L2 words are paired, mediated via hippocampal activation (dashed red lines). Immediately after learning, L2 words are still linked to their corresponding color concepts via the L1 words. If any direct cortical links exist at all, they are still very weak (dotted black lines). Thus, novel color words best activate their corresponding color concepts when the L1 color words are present in the testing context. If the L1 words are present (Variant A: solid L1 box), L2 words activate their color concepts via the hippocampal link. If there is no L1 context (Variant B: light gray L1 box), there is also no priming of the episodic link between the L2 words and their corresponding concepts, and therefore insufficient conceptual activation. After full consolidation, L2 words have stable cortical links to their L1 counterparts, and to their corresponding color concepts. Therefore, regardless of the presence of L1 words, the L2 words automatically co-activate their corresponding color concepts. (Illustration inspired by Frankland and Bontempi, 2005).