Visual Imagery and Aphantasia: Cognitive Science Perspectives

What is aphantasia?

A condition where individuals cannot visualize images in their mind.

What is the 'imagery debate'?

A discussion about the nature of mental imagery and whether it is spatial or propositional.

How do imagined pictures compare to actual objects?

Imagined pictures may differ significantly from the experience of seeing actual objects.

What is a common experience for people with aphantasia when asked to visualize?

They often report a lack of visual imagery, describing it as 'blackness' or an absence of sensory experience.

How do individuals with aphantasia process fiction?

They may digest fiction through a list of plot points rather than visual or sensory experiences.

What is the 'milk voice' in the context of aphantasia?

An inner monologue that lacks texture or sound, used for self-reminders.

What did Shepard & Metzler's Mental Rotation Study investigate?

It examined how participants mentally rotate images and the cognitive processes involved.

What does Pylyshyn (1973) propose about imagery?

He suggests that spatial representation is an epiphenomenon and that imagery is propositional.

What is the tacit-knowledge explanation in the context of imagery?

It posits that Kosslyn's results can be explained by using real-world knowledge unconsciously.

What did Mary Cheves Perky's 1910 study demonstrate?

Participants' visualizations were influenced by projections they did not consciously notice.

What are imagery neurons?

Neurons that respond to both perceiving and imagining an object, indicating overlap in brain activation.

What is the significance of the visual cortex in imagery?

It is involved in the brain's activation during both perception and imagery.

What is mental scanning?

A process where participants create mental images and then scan them in their minds.

What is the relationship between imagery and perception?

If imagery affects perception or vice versa, it suggests they share some underlying mechanisms.

What is the experience of dreaming for individuals with aphantasia?

They may not recall dreams or experience them without visual or sensory components.

How do people with aphantasia describe their auditory experiences?

They often report a flat inner monologue rather than vivid auditory experiences like music.

What is the main inquiry regarding people with no 'mind's eye'?

Understanding their experiences and how they differ from those who can visualize.

What is the impact of aphantasia on everyday life?

It can affect how individuals visualize tasks, remember information, and engage with creative content.

What is the primary question about imagery's nature?

Is imagery spatial or propositional?

What cognitive processes are involved in mental rotation tasks?

Participants must manipulate and rotate mental images to match or identify objects.

What does the term 'epiphenomenon' refer to in imagery studies?

A secondary effect or byproduct that accompanies a primary process but is not essential to it.