Cognitive Psychology: Mental Imagery

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering concepts of mental imagery, false memory formation, mnemonics, spatial navigation, and motor performance from Chapter 10.

Image

A mental representation of an object, scene, movement, or sound that aids in cognitive operations such as memory, perception, problem solving, and navigation.

False Memories from Imagery

Memory errors that occur when repeatedly imagining an event that never took place creates a false memory of having actually experienced it.

Picture Superiority Effect

The memory phenomenon showing that pictures and visual images are generally recalled significantly better than words.

Dual-Coding Theory

Paivio's theory proposing that information is represented in memory through two distinct systems: an arbitrary verbal code and a nonverbal perceptual code.

Concreteness Effect

The cognitive phenomenon where concrete words and concepts that easily evoke sensory mental images are remembered better than abstract terms.

Bizarreness Effect

The memory advantage whereby unusual, atypical, or bizarre items and mental images are remembered more reliably than common ones.

Method of Loci

A mnemonic technique involving the creation of mental images where items to be remembered are imagined in specific locations along a familiar route.

Pegword Mnemonic Technique

A memory strategy that links items to be remembered with a pre-memorized list of rhyming anchor words using interactive visual imagery.

Prospective Cognition

The cognitive capacity to predict future events and test possible problem solutions through internal mental simulation.

Spatial Representation

A format of mental representation that preserves the perceptual, geometric, and visual layouts of objects in their original form.

Propositional Representation

A format of mental representation that stores underlying concepts, meanings, and rule-based associations rather than physical or spatial configurations.

Scenographic Imagery

A type of navigation imagery that represents the direct, ground-level visual scenes one observes while walking along a path.

Abstract Imagery

A map-like, bird's-eye overview representation of an environment utilized for spatial navigation and wayfinding.

Route Perspective

A wayfinding method where directions are delivered based on the sequence of sights and landmarks encountered while traveling a path.

Survey Perspective

A wayfinding method where navigational instructions are provided from an overarching map perspective of the environment.

Kinesthetic Imagery

Nonvisual motor imagery experienced internally as if one were physically performing the muscular actions with their own body.

Cognitive Imagery

Athletic mental rehearsal focused specifically on the execution of motor skills, physical movements, or tactical strategies.

Motivational Imagery

Athletic mental imagery centered on goal achievement, competitive coping strategies, emotional regulation, and self-confidence.

Grounded Cognition

An approach proposed by Barsalou (2008) arguing that cognition represents knowledge through mental simulations involving bodily states, environmental interaction, and action goals.

Mental Simulation in Problem Solving

The step-by-step, piecemeal mental visualization of moving components used to determine how a mechanical system functions.