IPA: /kəˈnɛkʃənɪzəm/
KK: /kəˈnɛkʃənɪzəm/
A theory in psychology and cognitive science that explains mental processes through networks of interconnected units, similar to how neurons in the brain work together.
Connectionism is often used to model how we learn and process information in our brains.
Connectionism is formed from "connect" (from Latin "connectere", meaning to join together) and the suffix "-ism" (meaning a practice or system). The term refers to a theoretical framework in cognitive science that emphasizes the connections between units in a network, particularly in relation to learning and mental processes.
Think of 'joining together' ('connect') in a system or practice ('-ism') — that's what connectionism is all about.