Chapter 7, Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps Video Solutions, Cognition

Problem 1

Summarize the two theories of the characteristics of mental images: the analog code and the propositional code. Describe the findings about mental rotation, size, shape, reinterpreting ambiguous figures, and any other topics you recall. In each case, note which theory the results support.

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Problem 2

Almost all of this chapter dealt with visual imagery, because little information is available about imagery in the other senses. How might you design a study on taste imagery that would be conceptually similar to one of the studies mentioned in the section on mental imagery? See whether you can also design studies to examine smell, hearing, and touch, basing these studies on the research techniques discussed in the first section of this chapter.

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Problem 3

How do the studies on imagery and interference support the viewpoint that mental images operate like actual perceptions? Answer this question with respect to research on visual, auditory, and motor images. Describe how the research on interference provides strong support for the analog storage of information about objects.

Stephen Zaffke

Numerade Educator

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Problem 4

Suppose that you see a newspaper headline, "Males Have Better Spatial Ability, Study Shows." When reading this article, what cautions should you keep in mind, based on the discussion of gender comparisons in spatial ability?

Alexa Moschella

Numerade Educator

Problem 5

According to the research from cognitive neuroscience, what evidence do we have that visual imagery resemble perception? Why does this research avoid the problem of demand characteristics, which might be relevant in other imagery research?

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Problem 6

Cognitive maps sometimes correspond to reality, but sometimes they show systematic deviations. Discuss the factors that seem to produce systematic distortions when people estimate distance on mental maps.

Ali Soave

Numerade Educator

Problem 7

What heuristics cause systematic distortions in geographic shape and in relative position represented on cognitive maps? How are these related to two concepts we discussed in earlier chapters - namely, top-down processing (Chapter 2) and schemas (Chapter 5)?

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Problem 8

According to Franklin and Tversky's spatial framework model, the three dimensions represented in our cognitive maps are not equally important. Which dimension has special prominence? How does the spatial framework model explain these differences?

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Problem 9

The research we discussed in the first portion of this chapter emphasized that mental imagery often resembles perception. However, the material in the second portion emphasized that cognitive maps may be influenced by our concepts, as well as by our perceptions. Discuss these points, including some information about cognitive maps.

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Problem 10

Cognitive psychologists often tend to ignore individual differences. However, this chapter examined several ways in which individuals differ with respect to mental imagery and spatial cognition. Describe this information, and speculate about other areas in which researchers could examine individual differences.

Emily Himsel

Numerade Educator