Mental Imagery Overview and Representation Types
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Questions and Answers

What does mental imagery allow us to do?

  • Only recall past experiences accurately
  • Visualize events only when they are occurring
  • Forget vividly experienced events
  • Create sensory experiences without actual stimuli (correct)

Which of the following defines propositional representation?

  • It includes abstract symbols along with factual information. (correct)
  • It mimics the physical appearance of objects.
  • It relies solely on factual symbols.
  • It uses sensory images to represent knowledge.

What type of representation is scanning an image in your mind?

  • Depictive representation (correct)
  • Abstract representation
  • Propositional representation
  • Imagined representation

How does mental imagery engage memory?

<p>It utilizes both short and long-term memory. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies a complete fabrication in mental imagery?

<p>Imagining a beach holiday with friends (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to individual differences in mental imagery ability?

<p>Cognitive processing speed and imagination (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When might someone choose to use propositional representation?

<p>When solving a math problem (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between mental imagery and perception?

<p>Mental imagery enhances perceptual experiences. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of Shepard & Metzler (1971) in their experiment?

<p>To examine how angular separation affects reaction times (B), To investigate the function of depictive vs propositional representation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the results of Shepard & Metzler's (1971) study, how did reaction times (RTs) change with increasing angular separation?

<p>RTs increased with greater angular separations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What speed was concluded for the mental rotation operation in Shepard & Metzler's experiment?

<p>40 degrees per second (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of representation did Shepard & Metzler's predictions support?

<p>Depictive representation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specific aspect of mental imagery was Kosslyn (1973) investigating?

<p>The process of mentally scanning a single object (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Shepard & Metzler's experiment, what type of objects were participants comparing?

<p>Pairs of block objects (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What manipulation was used in Shepard & Metzler's study regarding the objects?

<p>Rotation angles ranging from 0 to 180 degrees (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did Shepard & Metzler reach regarding how subjects solved their task?

<p>By mentally rotating one object to match the other (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the time it takes for subjects to move their mental eye when the distance between objects increases?

<p>It increases (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of representation do subjects use when performing mental imagery tasks, according to the content?

<p>Depictive representation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the experiment conducted by Finke & Pinker (1982), what was the main task given to subjects?

<p>To judge whether an arrow pointed to a displayed dot (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the results from LeBihan et al. (1993) reveal about the visual cortex?

<p>It activates during both real and imagined perception (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did researchers draw from the results of Finke & Pinker's experiment regarding tacit knowledge?

<p>Subjects were unaware of the relevance of distance (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs in individuals with visual neglect when imagining a location?

<p>They describe objects only from their right visual field (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a method used in the studies mentioned in the content?

<p>Visual scanning of live objects (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of Pylyshyn's research on mental imagery?

<p>The role of tacit knowledge in mental imagery tasks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main prediction of the study regarding response times to questions about far objects?

<p>RTs should be longer for far objects. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Kosslyn's results in 1973, how did subjects' response times compare for far and near objects?

<p>Subjects took longer to respond to far objects. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What explanation did Pylyshyn propose for the data from imagery experiments?

<p>Imagery can be explained through a propositional code. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the 1978 study by Kosslyn, Ball, & Reiser, participants were tested on what aspect of mental imagery?

<p>The speed of moving a mental dot between objects. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main finding regarding the time needed to scan between objects in the 1978 study?

<p>Time increased linearly with distance between objects. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What mental process did Kosslyn suggest occurs when visual scanning an image?

<p>Mental scanning mimics actual visual scanning. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can one infer about the relationship between mental imagery and actual perception based on the research findings?

<p>Mental imagery and perception share similar processing times. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Pylyshyn's contribution to the understanding of mental imagery?

<p>He suggested the existence of a non-depictive code. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Bisiach & Luzzatti find regarding subjects with visual neglect when they imagined a piazza from a specific location?

<p>They described only the buildings visible in their right visual field. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key aspect of Paivio's Dual Code Theory of memory?

<p>Concrete nouns can be coded both propositionally and pictorially. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does reality monitoring help to differentiate?

<p>Imagined experiences from actual experiences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Johnson et al.'s study, what was the primary task given to subjects when they saw just the word?

<p>To create a mental image related to the word. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What important factor did Johnson et al. consider when categorizing subjects in their experiment?

<p>Their capacity for forming mental images. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What method was used in the Bisiach & Luzzatti study to assess mental imagery in subjects with visual neglect?

<p>They were asked to describe buildings from memory. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which types of words are typically represented only propositionally according to Paivio's theory?

<p>Abstract nouns and ideas. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the surprise test in Johnson et al.'s experiment?

<p>To evaluate the visual recognition of stimuli. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of mental imagery involves creating a sensory experience without an actual stimulus?

<p>Mental imagery (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes depictive representation?

<p>Creating a mental picture that can be scanned (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When might an individual choose to use propositional representation over depictive representation?

<p>When conveying logical statements (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a complete fabrication in mental imagery?

<p>Visualizing a vacation to a place one has never been (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies the use of depictive representation?

<p>Imagining your desk and searching for a stapler (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does mental imagery heavily rely on besides imagination?

<p>Attention and memory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents an abstract symbol in propositional representation?

<p>Saying '2 + 2 = 4' (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main finding of Shepard & Metzler (1971) regarding reaction times and angular separation?

<p>Reaction times increased with greater angular separation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During Shepard & Metzler's experiment, how did subjects indicate whether two objects were the same?

<p>By stating whether they were the same or different. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the speed of mental rotation operation indicate, according to the findings of Shepard & Metzler?

<p>40 degrees per second. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What prediction did Shepard & Metzler make regarding objects represented with a depictive code?

<p>Longer angular separations should lead to longer reaction times. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Kosslyn's 1973 study, what task did subjects perform after studying a picture?

<p>Form a mental image and focus on a specific part. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of the methods employed by Shepard & Metzler in their mental imagery study?

<p>Comparing pairs of block objects presented simultaneously. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected outcome of a propositional representation according to the predictions made in the study?

<p>It suggests that angular separation has no effect on RTs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Kosslyn's 1973 research explore regarding mental imagery?

<p>The mental process of scanning an image from memory. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Kosslyn's research suggest about the time taken to respond to mental imagery of far objects compared to near objects?

<p>Response times are longer for far objects. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the main finding of Kosslyn, Ball, & Reiser's 1978 study on mental imagery?

<p>Response time increased linearly with the distance between objects. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key characteristic of mental imagery that Kosslyn proposed?

<p>It is fundamentally similar to a pictorial representation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What alternative explanation did Pylyshyn provide regarding mental imagery processes?

<p>Mental imagery can be explained through a propositional code. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Kosslyn's 1978 study, what task did participants complete to assess their mental imagery abilities?

<p>They visualized a dot moving between two locations on a map. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'mental scanning' imply about the nature of mental images?

<p>They are processed similarly to visual perception in real life. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the findings of Kosslyn (1973), how does the reaction time of subjects change when asked about distant objects versus nearby objects?

<p>Distant objects require more processing time compared to nearby objects. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Kosslyn's 1973 experiment aimed to investigate which of the following aspects related to mental imagery?

<p>The spatial characteristics of mental images. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was observed in subjects with visual neglect when they imagined a famous piazza from a specific location?

<p>They only described buildings in their right visual field. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Dual Code Theory proposed by Paivio, which type of words can be coded using both propositional and pictorial codes?

<p>Concrete nouns such as 'dog' or 'tree'. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does reality monitoring help distinguish between?

<p>Memory of imagined events and real events. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What method did Johnson et al. utilize to assess the subjects' memory in their experiment?

<p>Presenting stimuli in a mixed format of pictures and words. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding regarding subjects who were classified as 'good imagers' in Johnson et al.'s study?

<p>They accurately remembered the pictures more than the words. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the findings from Bisiach & Luzzatti's study, how did subjects behave when asked to imagine viewing the piazza from a different direction?

<p>They described newly perceived buildings previously ignored. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of words does Paivio's Dual Code Theory suggest is represented only propositionally?

<p>Abstract nouns. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the surprise task given to subjects in Johnson et al.'s experiment?

<p>Estimate how often they perceived the pictures. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What findings were observed regarding the speed of scanning a mental image based on distance?

<p>Subjects took longer to scan when the distance was long. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did Finke & Pinker reach about the relationship between perceived distance and judgment time?

<p>Judgment time increased with the distance between the arrow and the dot. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did LeBihan et al. discover about brain activity during mental imagery and perception?

<p>Both actions activate the same areas in the visual cortex. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What argument did Finke & Pinker provide against the role of tacit knowledge in their study?

<p>Subjects had no prior knowledge of the task's requirements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Bisiach & Luzzatti, what challenge did participants with visual neglect face during mental imagery?

<p>They neglected to mention details from their right visual field. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What overall conclusion can be drawn from the findings of Pylyshyn (2003) regarding mental imagery tasks?

<p>Participants unconsciously conform to expected time relationships based on distance. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did subjects behave during the mental imagery tasks according to the findings of the various studies?

<p>They used their tacit knowledge of physical rules to guide their responses. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was unique about the methodology used by Finke & Pinker in their study?

<p>They focused on the relationship between arrows and dots without mentioning imagery. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Mental Rotation Task

A cognitive task where participants mentally rotate an object to compare it to another.

Depictive Code

Mental representation of objects as visual images.

Propositional Representation

A representation of an object that does not use visual images.

Reaction Time (RT)

The time it takes to respond to a stimulus.

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Shepard & Metzler (1971)

Researchers who conducted a study on mental rotation.

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Mental Imagery

Creating mental representations of objects or scenes.

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Angular Separation

The amount of rotation between two objects in a mental rotation task.

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Kosslyn (1973)

Researcher who studied mental imagery by having participants imagine specific parts of objects or pictures.

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Depictive Representation

Representing information as a picture or image that you can mentally scan, like visualizing a desk to find a stapler.

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Visual Imagery

Creating a visual image in your mind.

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Individual Differences in Imagery

People have different abilities to create and use mental images.

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Memory and Imagery

Mental imagery uses perception, attention, short-term and long-term memory to create the experience.

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Real vs. Fabricated Imagery

Mental imagery can involve real memories or completely made-up scenarios.

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Imagery and Problem Solving

The use of imagery in problem solving depends on the specific task. Some tasks benefit from visualization and mental scanning, while others are better handled with factual knowledge or symbolic representation.

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Cognitive Task?

A task that involves mental processes like memory, attention, or reasoning.

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Tacit Knowledge

Knowledge that is acquired unconsciously and used without conscious awareness.

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Mental Scanning

Moving your mental 'eye' across a visual image, as if you were physically looking at it.

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fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a technique used to measure brain activity.

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Visual Neglect

A condition where people ignore or neglect objects or information in their left visual field.

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Right Parietal Cortex

A part of the brain involved in visual attention and spatial awareness.

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Kosslyn's Study (1973)

A classic experiment that investigated mental scanning by having participants imagine an object, and measure their response time to questions about different parts of the object.

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Spatial Representation

The idea that mental images have a spatial layout, similar to real-world objects.

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Pylyshyn's Argument

A challenge to the idea of mental scanning, arguing that response times in imagery experiments can be explained by abstract knowledge structures rather than spatial representations.

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Kosslyn, Ball, & Reiser (1978)

A study that further investigated mental scanning, measuring the time required to mentally move between landmarks on a map.

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Linear Relationship

The observation that the time it takes to mentally scan between two points in a mental image increases proportionally to the distance between them.

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Testing Effect

The idea that actively retrieving information from memory, rather than simply re-reading it, leads to better learning and retention.

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Bisiach & Luzzatti (1978)

Researchers who studied visual neglect by asking subjects to imagine a familiar piazza and describe the buildings they 'saw'.

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Dual Code Theory

A theory by Paivio (1963) suggesting that we encode information in two ways: propositionally (abstract concepts) and pictorially (concrete objects).

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Reality Monitoring

The process of distinguishing between real memories and imagined experiences.

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Johnson's Study (1979)

A study that examined individual differences in memory and imagery by comparing 'good imagers' and 'bad imagers' in recalling images and words.

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Good Imagers

Individuals who excel at forming and using mental images.

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Bad Imagers

Individuals who have difficulty creating and using mental images.

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Mental Image Creation

The process of generating a mental representation of a scene or object.

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Kosslyn's Study

Experiment where participants imagine an object and their reaction time to questions about different parts of the object is measured.

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Shepard & Metzler's Experiment

A study that showed people took longer to mentally rotate an object the farther it needed to be turned.

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Mental Rotation

Mentally rotating an object to match its orientation to another object or to compare them.

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fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, providing insights into brain regions involved in specific tasks.

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What evidence supports the existence of mental imagery?

Brain imaging studies like fMRI demonstrate that visual areas of the brain activate during mental imagery, suggesting a connection to visual perception. Studies on mental scanning show that people take longer to mentally 'scan' larger distances, supporting the idea that mental images are spatial. However, critics argue that this can be explained by tacit knowledge.

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Johnson et al. (1979)

Researchers who studied individual differences in memory and mental imagery by comparing 'good imagers' and 'bad imagers' in recall tasks. They found that good imagers were better at recalling both real and imagined stimuli.

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Imagine a Piazza from Opposite Direction

A technique used in the study of visual neglect. By asking patients to imagine viewing a scene from a different direction, researchers could test if the neglect was tied to a specific location or a specific spatial representation.

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Good Imagers vs. Bad Imagers

Indicates that individuals differ in their ability to form and use mental images. Some people are better at recalling images or creating mental representations than others.

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Study Notes

Mental Imagery: Overview

  • Mental imagery is the ability to create sensory experiences without external stimuli. Visual imagery specifically involves creating pictures or movies in the mind.
  • Mental imagery utilizes perception, attention, and memory to construct these experiences. Experiences can be based on real events or entirely fabricated.
  • Individual abilities for mental imagery vary significantly.

Propositional vs. Depictive Representations

  • Propositional: Represents information using abstract symbols or factual knowledge (e.g., 2 + 2 = 4, "stapler on the desk").
  • Depictive: Represents information as a picture that is mentally scanned (e.g., visualizing a desk to locate a stapler). The choice between these depends on the task.

Shepard & Metzler (1971)

  • Methods: Subjects were presented with pairs of block objects and asked if they were the same or different. The difference sometimes involved only the rotational orientation of the objects.
  • Predictions: A depictive code means larger differences in rotation should cause longer reaction times to identify the objects as the same or different. Propositional representations would not show an effect of the rotation degree.
  • Results: Longer reaction times were observed as the degree of rotation increased, supporting the idea of a depictive code. The time increased linearly with rotational difference and averaging about 40 degrees per second of mental rotation.
  • Conclusion: Subjects mentally rotated one object to match the other, showing a mental rotation process and a speed near 40 degrees per second.

Kosslyn (1973)

  • Methods: Subjects studied a picture (e.g., a boat), mentally "looked" at a specific part, and then answered questions about other parts of the object (e.g., the distance separating the cabin from the motor).
  • Predictions: If imagery is spatial like perception, reaction time would be longer for far objects.
  • Results: Subjects took longer to respond to the far objects.
  • Conclusions: Visual imagery is spatial and operates much like visual perception; mentally scanning a mental image is like scanning a real image - the time to "scan" increased linearly with the distance.

Pylyshyn (1973, 2003):

  • Argument: Mental imagery experiments don't require depictive representations. The data can be explained through propositional codes. The time for accessing elements within the representation depends on the relationships ("links") between components in the representation.
  • Example: A mental map can be understood based on the associated "links" between locations.
  • Alternative Explanation: Pylyshyn argued that subjects might be relying on tacit knowledge of spatial relationships rather than a true mental image.

Kosslyn, Ball, & Reiser (1978)

  • Methods: Subjects studied maps, created mental images, and were asked to scan between landmarks.
  • Results: The time needed to mentally scan increased linearly with the distance between landmarks.
  • Conclusions: Imagery uses a depictive code to scan or move "mental eyes" across the image, just as with a physical image.

Finke & Pinker (1982)

  • Methods: Subjects viewed dot displays and an arrow, and they judged whether the arrow landed on a dot. The arrow and dots were separated by varying distances.
  • Results: The time to make the judgment increased with the distance between the arrow tip and the closest dot on the previous display, suggesting a scanning process.
  • Conclusion: Subjects appear to create a mental image of the display, then scan the image to locate whether the arrow landed on a target.

LeBihan et al. (1993)

  • Methods: fMRI was used to examine brain activation in subjects performing mental imagery tasks.
  • Results: Visual cortex activity was observed both when subjects saw and when they imagined objects.
  • Conclusion: Similar brain areas are used during perception and imagery tasks; challenging the purely propositional system.

Bisiach & Luzzatti (1978)

  • Methods: Subjects with visual neglect were asked to imagine a scene and describe what they saw, from different viewpoints.
  • Results: Subjects mainly described elements within the right visual field, regardless of the viewpoint.
  • Further Methods: Subjects were then asked to imagine the scenario from an opposite viewpoint.
  • Further Results: This time, the neglected parts appeared in the descriptions. Demonstrating that imagery can be spatially affected by the same factors that influence visual perception.

Dual Code Theory (Paivio, 1963)

  • Some words are coded propositionally (abstract concepts), whereas others combine propositional and pictorial codes, making memory for concrete nouns or images better than for abstract words.

Reality Monitoring (Johnson et al., 1979)

  • Concept: The ability to distinguish between memories of real events and imagined events. Mental imagery can blur those lines.
  • Method: Subjects (both "good" and "bad" imagers) experienced a series of word and picture cues, and were then tested to estimate how often they had seen each image.
  • Result: "Good" imagers were more likely to falsely remember/overestimate experiencing pictures if they had only imagined them. This implies imagery can create memories that feel genuine, potentially influencing memory accuracy.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of mental imagery, its definitions, and the differences between propositional and depictive representations. This quiz will examine concepts from the study of mental imagery and the critical research conducted by Shepard & Metzler in 1971. Test your understanding of how we visualize and represent information mentally.

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