What is Mental Imagery

Summary

This script delves into the concept of mental imagery, explaining how we form pictures in our minds and use them for tasks like comparing the size of objects. It discusses early experiments, such as those by Shepard and Metzler, which demonstrated that mental images have measurable psychological effects. The script also explores individual differences in mental imagery, including a condition called aphantasia, and how some people, like Temple Grandin, rely more on imagery than verbal information. Furthermore, it touches on the distinction between concrete and abstract words in terms of mental representation, offering insights into how we process and remember different types of words.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mental imagery refers to the experience of seeing pictures in our minds, like mentally comparing the size of a rabbit and a rat.
• 😀 One way to decide which of two objects is taller involves forming mental images and comparing their sizes in the mind's eye.
• 😀 Mental imagery was not studied until the late 19th century, after the cognitive revolution, with early work by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879.
• 😀 From the 1910s to 1960s, behaviorists did not study mental imagery due to its non-observable nature.
• 😀 In 1971, Shepard and Metzler conducted an experiment where participants judged whether two shapes were the same or different by mentally rotating them. The more they had to rotate an image, the longer it took to make a decision.
• 😀 Shepard and Metzler’s research showed that mental images have a psychological reality that can be measured by the time it takes to manipulate them in the mind.
• 😀 Research by Stephen Kosslyn found that people’s mental travel between landmarks on a map is correlated with the actual distance between objects on the map.
• 😀 Some people experience mental imagery vividly, while others have very little or none at all, a condition called aphantasia.
• 😀 People with autism spectrum disorder, like Temple Grandin, may rely more on mental imagery than verbal information, as described in her book 'Thinking in Pictures.'
• 😀 In the 1970s, researcher Paivio found that concrete words (like 'chair' or 'tree') are easier to imagine and remember compared to abstract words (like 'freedom' or 'patriotism').
• 😀 Concrete words have dual mental representations—both verbal and visual—while abstract words have only verbal representations, making concrete words easier to process and recall.

Q & A

What is mental imagery?

Mental imagery refers to the experience of seeing pictures in our minds. It is the mental process of visualizing or imagining objects, scenes, or events even when they are not physically present.

How do people typically determine which is taller, a rabbit or a rat?

People typically form mental images of the two animals in their minds and compare their heights visually. This process involves using mental imagery to 'see' and compare the animals.

Why was mental imagery not studied by behaviorists in the early 20th century?

Mental imagery was not studied by behaviorists between 1910 and 1960 because it is not directly observable. Behaviorism focused on observable behaviors, and mental processes like imagery were considered too subjective to measure.

What was the key experiment by Shepard and Metzler in 1971?

Shepard and Metzler's experiment involved asking participants to judge whether two visual shapes were the same or different. The task relied on mental imagery, and they discovered that the time it took participants to make judgments was related to how much they had to mentally rotate the shapes.

What did Shepard and Metzler's experiment reveal about mental imagery?

Their experiment demonstrated that mental images have psychological reality and can be measured. The speed at which participants made judgments was directly correlated with the degree of mental rotation needed, providing evidence that mental imagery can be studied empirically.

How did Stephen Kosslyn's research support the findings on mental imagery?

Stephen Kosslyn's research, including a study involving memorizing a map, showed that the time it took participants to mentally travel between locations on the map was correlated with the physical distances between landmarks, further confirming the measurable nature of mental imagery.

What is the condition called when someone has no or very sparse mental imagery?

The condition is called aphantasia. People with aphantasia experience little to no mental imagery, meaning they cannot visualize things in their minds.

How does Temple Grandin's experience with mental imagery differ from most people?

Temple Grandin, who has autism spectrum disorder, relies heavily on mental imagery rather than verbal information. She has described her thinking as primarily visual, which allows her to think in pictures rather than abstract concepts.

What is the difference between concrete and abstract words in terms of mental imagery?

Concrete words refer to things that can be easily imagined, such as 'chair' or 'tree.' Abstract words, like 'freedom' or 'patriotism,' are harder to visualize. Concrete words are processed using both verbal and visual mental representations, while abstract words are processed primarily through verbal representation.

How did Pavio's research in the 1970s contribute to our understanding of word processing?

Pavio's research in the 1970s showed that concrete words are recognized and remembered faster than abstract words because they involve both verbal and visual mental representations. In contrast, abstract words only have a verbal representation, making them more difficult to process and remember.