Fig. 8.

From similarity structure to category coherence. (A) A hierarchical similarity structure over objects in which categories at the basic level are very different from each other due to a negative similarity. (B) For this structure, basic-level categorical distinctions acquire larger singular values, or category coherence, and therefore gain an advantage in both learning and task performance. (C) Now, subordinate categories are very different from each other through negative similarity. (D) Consequently, subordinate categories gain a coherence advantage. See SI Appendix for formulas relating similarity structure to category coherence.