Why did many psychologists deny the cognitive significance of imagery?

By the 1920s, however, imagery was losing favor in psychology. It was realized that images were not the only (and perhaps not the major) way in which thought occurred. As a result, psychology turned away from imagery as a topic and introspection as a method.

 

Why did interest in imagery gradually increased from the 1960s?

Things changed somewhat in the 1960s, early 1970s, when due to the efforts of cognitive psychologists such as Allan Paivio and Roger Shepard imagery once again became respectable as a topic for experimental psychological investigation.

 

What is a verbal code? What is a non-verbal (visual) code?

Verbal codes denote concrete objects and events, as well as abstract ideas. For example, the English words "book" and the Russian word "книга" are verbal labels for the same object.

Non-verbal (imagery) representations include images for shapes, environmental sounds (e.g., school bell) and actions (e.g., drawing lines). That is, mental images for "book" have visual, tactual, and other qualities of a perceived object.

 

What code can be used when recalling information?

(VERBAL)

Individuals recall words that are high in concrete imagery (for example, chair, tree, balloon, and house) far better than words low in concrete imagery (love, democracy, justice, truth, etc.).

 

Can we say that verbal representations of an object are more abstract than visual ones?

Ronald Shepard showed in numerous experiments that individuals could ``manipulate’’ images as if they were real objects. For example, subjects appeared to rotate complex figures in their minds (i.e.,``turn them over and around’’) and examine them from different ``viewpoints’’.

 

Can we say that concrete imagery is better recalled than imagery of abstract words or concepts?

Some researchers argue that imagery is a symbolic coding system that is distinctive from that of a more abstract, linguistic mode. Imagery is regarded as a more concrete['kɔŋkriːt] mode of information processing, whereas language is a more logical and analytic mode. Individuals recall words that are high in concrete imagery (for example, chair, tree, balloon, and house) far better than words low in concrete imagery (love, democracy, justice, truth, etc.).

 

What is the name of the process by which information gets into memory storage?

dual coding theory

 

What are the underlying assumptions of the dual coding theory of imagery?

If “abstract” forms of mental representation do underlie our thought processes, we are certainly not conscious of them as such. Thus, their relevance to explaining conscious thought would seem to be indirect. In fact, people are frequently conscious of imagery rather “abstract” forms of mental representation.

 

9. What two modes of encoding information does the ``dual coding’’ theory of imagery postulate?

A cognitive psychologist Allan Paivio advanced the ``dual coding’’ theory of imagery which postulated two modes of encoding information from the environment into memory– one largely ``pictorial’’ and one largely ``verbal’’

How did Ronald Shepard (1978) demonstrate that both imagery and verbal processes play major roles in the representation of knowledge?

For example, he showed in numerous experiments that individuals could ``manipulate’’ images as if they were real objects. For example, subjects appeared to rotate complex figures in their minds (i.e.,``turn them over and around’’) and examine them from different ``viewpoints’’.