6th

Representation of Knowledge in Memory

  • Knowledge can be represented and manipulated in various forms.

  • Importance of images and propositions in memory representation.

Key Concepts

Storage and Representation

  • Knowledge representations: forms and storage methods.

  • Theories describing knowledge representation.

  • Mental imagery manipulation techniques.

  • Integrative approaches to understanding representation.

Types of Knowledge

  • Declarative Knowledge: Facts and information (e.g., "My name is Mary.")

  • Procedural Knowledge: Skills and processes.

External Representation

Representation Forms

  • Pictures: Concrete attributes depicted (e.g., shape of objects).

  • Words: Abstract concepts requiring rule application (e.g., spelling).

Comparison: Picture vs. Words

  • Pictures convey geometric shapes; words convey abstract notions.

  • Representation differences impact comprehension.

Internal Representation

Mental Imagery

  • Represents information not currently sensed, based on experiences.

  • Involves various sensory modalities.

Dual-Code Theory

  • Combines pictorial (analog) and verbal (symbolic) information.

  • Verbal information processed differently than pictorial information.

Propositional Theory

  • Focus on abstract concepts through propositions (relationships between elements).

  • Propositional representations capture a variety of relationships (e.g., actions, attributes).

Examples of Propositional Relationships

  • Actions: "A mouse bit a cat." represented as Bite(mouse, cat).

  • Attributes: "Mice are furry." represented as furry(mouse).

  • Spatial Positions: "A cat is under the table." represented as under(cat, table).

  • Class Membership: "A cat is an animal." represented as member(cat, animal).

Limitations and Manipulations

Limitations of Mental Images

  • Visual images may be distorted by verbal input.

Mental Manipulation Hypotheses

  • Functional-equivalence hypothesis: Suggests images use the same operations as propositions.

  • Time delays in mental tasks vary based on object sizes and distances.

Evidence and Studies

  • Studies show varying reaction times for mental rotations based on angles (Shepard & Metzler).

  • Same brain areas involved in perception are active during mental rotations.

Integrating Dual-Code and Propositional Theories

Mental Models

  • Merging images with propositions leads to mental models.

  • Mental models are structured knowledge constrained by individual theories.