Imagery (ch 10)

Question 1

Dual-coding Hypothesis

Answer 1

2 ways to represent concepts: through mental image or verbal representation. The two systems operate in parallel.

Question 2

Dual-coding 1

Answer 2

Thinking through mental image

Question 3

Dual-coding 2

Answer 3

Thinking through verbal representation

Question 4

Paivio (1971)

Answer 4

Paired-associates task measuring concreteness vs abstractness of words (ex: fork-apple vs democracy-justice). People were able to recall both images & words, with the closer the relationship the better (both concrete or abstract remembered better, difficulty when pairing one of each) –> dual-coding

Question 5

Introspection Example

Answer 5

Verbalizing inner-workings of the mind while doing tasks

Question 6

Mental Rotation

Answer 6

The ability to turn an object around in the head.

Question 7

Shepherd & Metzler (1971

Answer 7

Subjects shown pictures of figures rotated to varying degrees. Rotation & response time are increased the greater the difference between images. –> mental rotation

Question 8

Mental Scanning/Mental Scaling

Answer 8

Briefly observing things before asking to recall details.

Question 9

Kosslyn (1973)

Answer 9

Subjects briefly shown a picture (below) & asked to recall details like the type of motor or shape of porthole. –> mental scanning

Question 10

Anti-Mental Imagery

Answer 10

You can think in pictures, but it’s not necessary.

Question 11

Pylyshyn (1973)

Answer 11

Argued against the notion of separate representational system for visual images.

Question 12

Mental Images v Pictures

Answer 12

Cannot see images unless you know what it is, are easily distorted by viewers interpretations, hard to reverse, and hard to break down/decompose.

Question 13

Cognitive Maps

Answer 13

A mental representation of one’s environment that are systematically distorted due to people’s heuristics.

Question 14

Tversky (1981)

Answer 14

People’s maps are systematically distorted because we use certain heuristics or shortcuts (system 1 thinking). –> cognitive maps

Question 15

fMRI Studies

Answer 15

Imagery neurons in the visual cortex respond to both perceiving and imagining an object.

Question 16

TMS Studies

Answer 16

When the visual processing area is disrupted, judgements based on both perception & imagery were inhibited.

Question 17

Farrah (1988)

Answer 17

Occipital lobe lit up when participants answered questions with mental images. You use the same part of the brain as if you are actually looking at something. –> fMRI/TMS Studies