Chapter 7 Reflection

1. Chapter 7 discusses mental imagery relating analog code v. propositional code. The analog code theory says that the information about an image is stored as an image. the propositional code theory says that we store images as language. The chapter also talks about imagery as related to size and shape and interference with imagery. The second part of the chapter focuses on cognitive maps for instance when we need to find a new classroom at SIUE we use a cognitive map of the campus.
2. This chapter is related to chapter 5 with long term memory and how we store our mental images. It is also related to chapter 4 when we take the stored mental image from long-term memory to working memory in order to use it. I think that once the image appears in working memory whether it was stored as an image or language, it is converted to a picture using the visuospatial sketchpad. Similarly auditory sounds are brought to working memory and is used through the phonological loop.
3. I did have a question about how chapter 4 relates to chapter 7. In chapter 4 it mentions that it is difficult to be completing a visual task and at the same time have an auditory interference. Chapter 7 says that interference occurs when there are 2 visual tasks happening at the same time or 2 auditory tasks happening at the same time. Does it occur in both cases then or is the interferences of working memory as opposed to long-term memory?
4. We use visual and mental imagery in math constantly especially in my calculus class. It is interesting to understand how the mental and actual image can interfere with each other. I think that I will be more aware of this in my classroom.
5. I think that for the most part the author gives several examples of studies that have been done to show proof. As I was reading about the alignment heuristic, the book said that they asked students where Rome was in relation to Philadelphia. The study said that people are accustomed to thinking things are in a straight line but what if they asked people that really have no background in Geography. How would this studies results show this result?
6. This is important to understand how our mental images can differ from the actual image. I found it very interesting when the book described analog code and propositional code. I think that I agree with what Pylyshyn explained. I thought about a computers memory when I was reading the book. He said that yes we are able to see these mental images but he thinks that they are stored as language in our long term memory and then can be pulled out of long term and formed into an image. There would be a lot more room for info, as with a computer, if things are stored as text and then using the visuospatial sketchpad we can convert them to a mental image.
7. I use mental imagery as compared to the actual image as we are doing transformations of graphs in Calculus. I give the students a parent graph starting at the origin of a function such as a parabola. By manipulating the equation by +, -, etc. the parabola moves and chages shape. My students practice making a mental image of the new parabola and then we check our results using a graphing calculator.
8. My only question about the books examples of studies is that they don't go into detail with the number of participants and how many times the study was completed, etc. I am sure that the references go into more detail about it. Most of the time good researchers will say what their limitations are in a study because no study is perfect. I assume that the actual researcher has done this but we would have to look further into the references listed in the book.