imagination

Mental Imagery

Patterns of brain activity that are not evoked by sensory input but share attributes with one or more activity patterns that are.

The Analogical Theory

Stephen Kosslyn argued that mental images are analogical, meaning they function as “mental pictures” that we can visualize.

Image is a picture

The Propositional Theory

Zenon Pylyshyn claimed that mental images are propositional, meaning they are abstract and symbolic representations, not literal “pictures”.

“Image is a description”

FFA (Fusiform Face Area)

Significantly activated during mental imagery or familiar faces

Face

PPA (Parahippocampal Place Area)

Significantly activated during mental imagery of places or scenes ( eg. home).

Place

Mental synthesis

the conscious, voluntary process of combining two or more familiar mental images into a new, complex scene, controlled by the lateral prefrontal cortex.

Difference between imagination and vision

Reverse Hierarchy

The magnitude of the activity in the area

Visual and imagery receptive fields

A visual receptive field - refers to the specifics area in the visual field where a stimulus (light) can trigger a response.

Imagery receptive fields are larger than visual receptive fields.

Hippocampus

Navigating through space and time; episodic memory

Not as many hippocampal neurons fire during imagery, but when they do they are identical to vision (perception)

Involved in the process of imagination

Imagery as a Cognitive Tool

Problem- Solving: Imagery allows us to stimulate scenarios visually in our minds, helping us determine outcomes and asses risks.

Prospective Thinking: Imagers held us anticipate future events. For example, when preparing for a presentation, we might mentally picture ourselves on stage, rehearsing the sequence of slides and predicting the audience reactions.

Aphantasia

You cannot imagine

The inability to create mental images in one’s mind or cannot see pictures in your mind.

Hyperphantasia

A heightened ability to visualize mental images

Differences

Stronger connectivity between prefrontal cortices and the visual network among hyperphantasic than aphantasic participants.

Greater anterior parietal activation among hyperphantasic and control than aphantasic participants when comparing visualization of famous faces and places with perception.

The visual Network and Prefrontal Cortex are more often activated in hyperphantasic patients becasue they see things.

Original Galton Study

People reporting extreme imagination experienced:

Brilliant,

Sensory deprivation Tank

Tool designed to minimize the external stimuli received by our nervous system

Used to discover happens to the mind when it is “disconnected” from Physical reality.

Sensory deprivation tank effects on Brain

Brain waves- It has been observed that the brain tends to shift from Beta waves (alert sate) to Theta waves. This state is what we usually experience just before falling asleep or during very deep meditation.

Found the mind been a hyperactive, generating hallucinations and profound altered states of consciousness. The brain can be modified using fake images

All waves

Gamma Waves (30-100 HZ) - Insight, Peak Experiences, Synchronization

Beta Waves (12-30 HZ) - Alertness, Concentration, Thinking

Alpha Waves (8-12 HZ) - Meditation, Creativity, Relaxation

Theta Waves (4-8) HZ - Visualization, Trance, Dreaming

Delta Waves (0.5-4 HZ) - Deep Sleep, Transcendence, Restoration

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Non-Invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. A magnetic field is generated which penetrates the skull to stimulates electrical activity in the brain.

Used to treat treatment resistant depression, specifically OCD and migraines.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Can activate the sensory and motor system,

How does TMS activate the Sensory and Motor System?

• Motor Cortex Stimulation - TMS can id cue activist in the motor cortex, improving movement control in patients with motor impairments.

• Sensory Perception Modulation - It has been used to enhance tactile sensitivity and pain perception in neurological conditions.

• Neurological Rehabilitation - In patients with brain injuries, TMS may help reorganize neuronal connections, supporting motor function recovery.

Pros and Cons of TMS

Pros: Non-invasive: No Surgery or anesthesia needed, Fewer side effects: Compared to medications, it has fewer side effects, Effective for depression: held with people who take antidepressants and that’s wasn’t work, No medication required, Outpatient treatment: No hosiplization needed

Cons of TMS: Time commitment: Many sessions required, Not effective for everyone, High Cost, Mild side effects like scalp discomfort or headaches

Motor Imagery

Studies show that imagining movements activates brain regions similar to those used for performing the actual movements. TMS applied to the motor cortex during these mental exercises can enhance motor skills and promote neural plasticity, which is especially useful in rehabilitation.

TMS effect on Art and Aesthetic

• When we imagine something, some regions related to the activity are activated, with the TMS, we can directly impact the real activity we can do and we are imagining.

Neural Basis of Imagination

TMS is a device that helps with the study of imagination by inhibition of some areas when we are doing certain activities related to that.

Brain- Computer interfaces (BCIs)

• Creates a direct connection between the human brain and external devices like computers or prosthetics.

• Work bye capturing brain signals, processing them with algorithms, and translating those signals into commands to control technology.

Uses for BCI

• Imagination as Control : paralyzed individuals can imagine moving a cursor, then BCI translate the brain signals to actions.

• Speech and Creativity: Imagine speech then the BCI transforms them gained speech into audible speech.

• Artistic and Design Applications: Imagine designs, then BCI helps materialize them in digital form

• Ethical and Philosophical Questions: Problem is that at one point the AI would do everything and you would not need to imagine or create.