connections [37], or cause and eﬀect [33] between two nodes.
When individuals search their memory for a particular piece of a message in their mind,
the targeted node becomes salient and activated in the temporary memory [ 39]. If two messages
are always activated simultaneously, their connection tends to be more robust and the messages are
regarded as associated [36]. If a link is recorded between two concepts, activations are likely to spread
through the link from one concept to another with or without conscious awareness [ 40]. Whereas
associations of nodes in the mind may not necessarily reﬂect the actual relationships of objects, in reality,
several factors, including media usage, personal experience, and political stance [34,41,42], may help
bundle diﬀerent sets of concepts.