Module 8

Question 1

Imagery

Answer 1

Mental representation of something; mostly visual but can occur in any modality; lots of individual difference

Question 2

Symbolic representation

Answer 2

Something that stand for an object in the real world but does not look like it (ex: language); can be schematic or abstract

Question 3

Imagery debate

Answer 3

Do we store knowledge as a symbolic or analogue code first? Most scientists agree we use both propositions and mental images equally as often

Question 4

Paivio’s Dual Code Theory

Answer 4

Thoughts can be represented in symbolic code (words) and analogue code (pictures); some items are coded in both, some can only have analogue coding

Question 5

Functional-equivalence hypothesis (Kosslyn)

Answer 5

All images are represented as spatial representations (spatial aspects of an object are maintained in the image); images are functionally equivalent to their object. Argues basic unit of knowledge is images whenever possible

Question 6

Propositional theory (Pylyshyn)

Answer 6

Argues we store information as verbal propositions, and images are a biproduct

Question 7

Proposition

Answer 7

Smallest unit that can stand for an assertion and be verified; can be expressed in language or images; not tied to a modality; internal and mental (only the individual has direct access to them)

Question 8

Mental rotation experiments

Answer 8

2D images of 3D objects, judge reaction time of determining if the object is the same or different. Found longest time for different, and time increased with amount of rotation of same. Same findings for real 3D objects, supports functional-equivalence theory

Question 9

Image scanning experiments

Answer 9

Present a map, memorize it, mentally travel from one spot to another, push button at location. Reaction time measured. Longer time for longer distances; same as real life; supports functional-equivalence

Question 10

Image scaling experiments

Answer 10

Imagined one large animal and one small animal. Asked about physical details. Reaction time to answer was slower for smaller animals, indicating mental zoom process. Similar to real life; supports functional-equivalence

Question 11

Ambiguous figures experiment

Answer 11

Presented star of david symbol. Memorized it. Asked about shapes that exist in it. Failed recognizing parallelogram despite it being a part of the shape. Argued that we stored it as a label rather than an image, otherwise we’d be able to recognize that shape. Rejects functional-equivalence

Question 12

Aspects of representational knowledge

Answer 12

Symbolic, amodal, decontextualized (when you think of something you access all knowledge about it every time), stable

Question 13

Embodied cognition

Answer 13

considering how our bodies act in the world; interaction between the body and the environment creates meaning; does not require representation

Question 14

Aspects of embodied cognition

Answer 14

Simulation based, Modality-specific, Situated, Dynamic

Question 15

Simulation based

Answer 15

Thought is a simulation of an action, not a representation of knowledge; when we access knowledge we are actually reliving past experiences sensationally

Question 16

Modality-specific

Answer 16

The way we store knowledge depends on how we experienced it, and it’s representation will follow that (ex: taste knowledge activates taste areas of brain)

Question 17

Situated/Context dependent

Answer 17

The context of why you are thinking about an object will change how you bring it to mind. Ex: apple in orchard vs. apple in bakery

Question 18

Dynamic

Answer 18

The way we encode or access knowledge can change the knowledge itself. Direct consequence of situated aspect.

Question 19

Zwaan egg experiment

Answer 19

Read sentences about egg being in fridge or pan. Shown a whole egg (in a shell). Asked if image matched what was described, measured reaction time. Found longer for pan than for fridge. Supports embodied cognition (context will determine what kind of egg you bring to mind; situated)

Question 20

Situated Simulation Theory (Barsalou)

Answer 20

Body/sensorimotor have causal connection with intelligent behavior; cognition requires reactivation of sensorimotor experience; neural representation of concepts is not amodal or abstract; knowledge is flexible and goal driven

Question 21

Semantic knowledge representation

Answer 21

Old assumption: semantic memory was stored in the anterior temporal lobe (based on dementia patients)
New assumption: knowledge is stored across the brain (patients can lose knowledge of specific categories, none of which coincide with the ATL)

Question 22

Hauk et al experiment

Answer 22

Studied brain activity of people performing and thinking about actions, saw that same areas activated when thinking as performing. Supports distribution of knowledge
Issue: brain imaging studies changes of activity, and since ATL is always active it won’t show up

Question 23

Hub and Spoke model

Answer 23

Knowledge is stored in a singular hub with a surrounding set of spokes

Question 24

Hub

Answer 24

modality-independent concept center; stores static and abstract knowledge (like the ATL)

Question 25

Spoke

Answer 25

Modality specific areas involved in thought simulation; works alongside the hub

Question 26

Probic TMS experiment

Answer 26

Applies TMS to the inferior parietal lobe and ATL to temporarily deactivate knowledge of reaching and grasping. Showed ppl images of living and nonliving objects. Measured reaction time to name the objects. Found all knowledge was affected when applied to ATL, but only non-living was affected when applied to IPL. Found that IPL area only concern knowledge about high manipulability non-living objects. Supports hub and spoke theory and that IPL is a spoke.