PSYCH FINAL EXAM: Imagery

Dual Code Theory

-Paivio was the first to formalize the theory that there seems to be two types of representations -Visual imagery and verbal codes Visual representations = analogues Usually preserve the main perceptual features of the item (e.g. cat—looks like a cat) Verbal representations = symbols Do not resemble the perceptual item (the number 9 for nineness)

Analogical representations

A mental representation that has some of the physical characteristics of an object (i.e. picture of a violin). How do we study this type of thought: introspection. Mental rotation and image scanning experiments. -basis of all thinking is knowledge - knowledge consists of mental representations of the world and our experiences with the world 2 types of representation: -symbolic and analogical. -visual representation: analogues. Analogue codes usually preserve the main perceptual features of the item (e.g cat - looks like a cat)

Symbolic Representations

An abstract mental representation that does not correspond to the physical features of an object or idea (i.e. the word "violin"). - two types of symbolic representational elements: -concepts: * can be literal (dog) or abstract (length) * concepts are the building blocks of symbolic knowledge.

Conceptual peg hypothesis

Memory for words that evoke mental images is better than those that do not - According to this hypothesis, concrete nouns create images that people can hang onto.