2.1 Problem 6
Part A/B
Imagery- mental representation of things that are not currently seen or
sensed by the sense organs
More aware of visual imagery than other forms of imagery
Use visual images to solve problems and answer questions involving
objects
o Mentally represent images
Use of mental images can help improve memory
Study: Down syndrome, use of mental images in conjunction with
hearing story= improved memory for material, compared with just
hearing the story
Some individuals better able to create mental images than others
Can measure differences with fMRI
Learning can take place just by using mental images
Study (Tartaglia and Co)
Method: presented participants with vertical parallel
arrangement of 3 lines: middle line either closer to RH or LH
outer line
Results: using mental images caused greater sensitive to
asymmetry to LH or RH side
Theories/Views
Extreme view: all images of everything we ever sense are stored as exact
copies of physical images
Impossible to store very observed physical image, as capacity of
brain is inadequate
Dual-Code Theory (Paivio)
Dual code theory- we use both pictorial and verbal codes for
representing information in our mind
Two codes organise info into knowledge that can be acted on,
stored, and later retrieved for use
Mental images are:
1. analog codes- resemble the objects they are representing
o mental images formed in our minds are analogous to physical
stimuli we observe
2. symbolic code- form of knowledge representation that has been
chosen arbitrarily to stand for something that does not
perceptually resemble what is being represented
o mental representations for words
o may be anything arbitrarily designated to stand for something
other than itself
o Verbal info seems to be processed differently than pictorial
info
Study (Paivio)
Method: shown both rapid sequence of pictures and sequence of
words
Asked to recall words or pictures either:
, 1. At random, so recall as many items as possible, regardless
of order in which items were presented
2. In correct order
Results: more easily recalled pictures when allowed to do so in
any order
More readily recalled sequence in which words were
presented than the sequence for pictures
Significance: Suggests possibility of 2 different systems for word
vs picture recall
Need to produce verbal response could interfere with simultaneous
mental manipulation of words
Study (Brooks)
Method: performed either
- Visual task: answering questions requiring judgement
about sentence that was stated briefly
- Verbal task: answering questions requiring judgements
about a sentence that was stated briefly
Expressed responses verbally, or manually
Hypothesis: condition with visual task requiring visual response, and
verbal task requiring verbal response expected interference
Results: slower response times in performing pictorial task when
asked to respond using competing visual display, than
noninterfering response medium
Significance: response involving visual perception can interfere with
task involving manipulations of visual image
Response involving verbal expression can interfere with task
involving mental manipulations of verbal statement
Propositional Theory
Propositional theory- we don’t store mental representations in form of
images or words
May experience mental representations as images, but these images
are epiphenomena- secondary and derivative phenomena that
occur as a result of other more basic cognitive processes
Mental representations resemble abstract form of proposition
o Meaning underlying a particular relationship among concepts
Propositions:
o Used to describe any kind of relationship
o Propositional form of mental representation is neither in words
nor images
o Both images and verbal statements mentally represented in
terms of deep meanings, not specific images or words
o When we retrieve info from storage, propositional
representation is retrieved: minds re-create verbal or imaginal
code relatively accurately
Neuroimaging shows primary visual cortex is activated when people
work on tasks that require detailed visual imagery: same part that’s
active when perceive actual visual objects
Mental Rotation
Part A/B
Imagery- mental representation of things that are not currently seen or
sensed by the sense organs
More aware of visual imagery than other forms of imagery
Use visual images to solve problems and answer questions involving
objects
o Mentally represent images
Use of mental images can help improve memory
Study: Down syndrome, use of mental images in conjunction with
hearing story= improved memory for material, compared with just
hearing the story
Some individuals better able to create mental images than others
Can measure differences with fMRI
Learning can take place just by using mental images
Study (Tartaglia and Co)
Method: presented participants with vertical parallel
arrangement of 3 lines: middle line either closer to RH or LH
outer line
Results: using mental images caused greater sensitive to
asymmetry to LH or RH side
Theories/Views
Extreme view: all images of everything we ever sense are stored as exact
copies of physical images
Impossible to store very observed physical image, as capacity of
brain is inadequate
Dual-Code Theory (Paivio)
Dual code theory- we use both pictorial and verbal codes for
representing information in our mind
Two codes organise info into knowledge that can be acted on,
stored, and later retrieved for use
Mental images are:
1. analog codes- resemble the objects they are representing
o mental images formed in our minds are analogous to physical
stimuli we observe
2. symbolic code- form of knowledge representation that has been
chosen arbitrarily to stand for something that does not
perceptually resemble what is being represented
o mental representations for words
o may be anything arbitrarily designated to stand for something
other than itself
o Verbal info seems to be processed differently than pictorial
info
Study (Paivio)
Method: shown both rapid sequence of pictures and sequence of
words
Asked to recall words or pictures either:
, 1. At random, so recall as many items as possible, regardless
of order in which items were presented
2. In correct order
Results: more easily recalled pictures when allowed to do so in
any order
More readily recalled sequence in which words were
presented than the sequence for pictures
Significance: Suggests possibility of 2 different systems for word
vs picture recall
Need to produce verbal response could interfere with simultaneous
mental manipulation of words
Study (Brooks)
Method: performed either
- Visual task: answering questions requiring judgement
about sentence that was stated briefly
- Verbal task: answering questions requiring judgements
about a sentence that was stated briefly
Expressed responses verbally, or manually
Hypothesis: condition with visual task requiring visual response, and
verbal task requiring verbal response expected interference
Results: slower response times in performing pictorial task when
asked to respond using competing visual display, than
noninterfering response medium
Significance: response involving visual perception can interfere with
task involving manipulations of visual image
Response involving verbal expression can interfere with task
involving mental manipulations of verbal statement
Propositional Theory
Propositional theory- we don’t store mental representations in form of
images or words
May experience mental representations as images, but these images
are epiphenomena- secondary and derivative phenomena that
occur as a result of other more basic cognitive processes
Mental representations resemble abstract form of proposition
o Meaning underlying a particular relationship among concepts
Propositions:
o Used to describe any kind of relationship
o Propositional form of mental representation is neither in words
nor images
o Both images and verbal statements mentally represented in
terms of deep meanings, not specific images or words
o When we retrieve info from storage, propositional
representation is retrieved: minds re-create verbal or imaginal
code relatively accurately
Neuroimaging shows primary visual cortex is activated when people
work on tasks that require detailed visual imagery: same part that’s
active when perceive actual visual objects
Mental Rotation
