scholarly journals The critical role of mental imagery in human emotion: insights from Aphantasia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Wicken ◽  
Rebecca Keogh ◽  
Joel Pearson
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Physiological Response ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Special Population ◽  
Human Emotion

AbstractOne proposed function of imagery is to make thoughts more emotionally evocative through sensory simulations. Here we report a novel test of this theory utilizing a special population with no visual imagery: Aphantasia. After using multi-method verification of aphantasia, we show that this condition, but not the general population, is associated with a flat-line physiological response to frightening written, but not perceptual scenarios, supporting imagery’s critical role in emotion.

scholarly journals The critical role of mental imagery in human emotion: insights from fear-based imagery and aphantasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1946) ◽  
pp. 20210267
Author(s):  
Marcus Wicken ◽  
Rebecca Keogh ◽  
Joel Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Physiological Response ◽  
Emotional Response ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Special Population ◽  
The Past ◽  
Skin Conductance Levels ◽  
Future Events

One proposed function of imagery is to make thoughts more emotionally evocative through sensory simulation, which can be helpful both in planning for future events and in remembering the past, but also a hindrance when thoughts become overwhelming and maladaptive, such as in anxiety disorders. Here, we report a novel test of this theory using a special population with no visual imagery: aphantasia. After using multi-method verification of aphantasia, we show that this condition, but not the general population, is associated with a flat-line physiological response (skin conductance levels) to reading and imagining frightening stories. Importantly, we show in a second experiment that this difference in physiological responses to fear-inducing stimuli is not found when perceptually viewing fearful images. These data demonstrate that the aphantasic individuals' lack of a physiological response when imaging scenarios is likely to be driven by their inability to visualize and is not due to a general emotional or physiological dampening. This work provides evidence that a lack of visual imagery results in a dampened emotional response when reading fearful scenarios, providing evidence for the emotional amplification theory of visual imagery.

scholarly journals Attention driven phantom vision: measuring the sensory strength of attentional templates and their relation to visual mental imagery and aphantasia

2020 ◽  
Vol 376 (1817) ◽  
pp. 20190688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Keogh ◽  
Joel Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Special Population ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
External Stimulation ◽  
Feature Based ◽  
Future Object ◽  
The Relationship

When we search for an object in an array or anticipate attending to a future object, we create an ‘attentional template' of the object. The definitions of attentional templates and visual imagery share many similarities as well as many of the same neural characteristics. However, the phenomenology of these attentional templates and their neural similarities to visual imagery and perception are rarely, if ever discussed. Here, we investigate the relationship between these two forms of non-retinal phantom vision through the use of the binocular rivalry technique, which allows us to measure the sensory strength of attentional templates in the absence of concurrent perceptual stimuli. We find that attentional templates correlate with both feature-based attention and visual imagery. Attentional templates, like imagery, were significantly disrupted by the presence of irrelevant visual stimuli, while feature-based attention was not. We also found that a special population who lack the ability to visualize (aphantasia), showed evidence of feature-based attention when measured using the binocular rivalry paradigm, but not attentional templates. Taken together, these data suggest functional similarities between attentional templates and visual imagery, advancing the theory of visual imagery as a general simulation tool used across cognition. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Offline perception: voluntary and spontaneous perceptual experiences without matching external stimulation’.

Basketmaker and Archaic Rock Art of the Colorado Plateau: A Reinterpretation of Paleoimagery

2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 819-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Kitchell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Colorado Plateau ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Cognitive System ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Narrative Language

A new cognitive model is proposed and applied to the analysis of the anthropomorphic-dominated paleoimagery or rock art of both the Archaic Barrier Canyon Style and the Basketmaker San Juan Style of the Colorado Plateau, including the attributes of headdresses and messengers. Under the cognitive model, the decision to execute rock art is culturally and historically conditioned; the interaction of narrative language and visual imagery takes precedence over hallucinatory and trance mechanisms. The cognitive model examines the interplay between perceptual imagery and stored mental imagery, both of which occur within the human cognitive system. Such an interplay arguably has been as important in the shaping of human cultures as the role of language. These Archaic and Basketmaker ecologies and cultures also may have developed group ritual, an early adoption not requisitely tied to the transition from a mobile hunter-gatherer ecology to an agricultural ecology. Such interpretations redefine the predominant images of the region's Archaic and Basketmaker anthropomorphic figures, bird-headed imagery, messenger spirits, supplication panels, and processional panels. The model reinstates the praejudico role that visual imagery plays in the construction of culture.

scholarly journals Mental Imagery in Early Psychosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 027623662110217
Author(s):  
Laura Auvinen-Lintunen ◽  
Tuula Ilonen ◽  
Tuula Kieseppä ◽  
Jaana Suvisaari ◽  
Maija Lindgren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Affective Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Dysfunction in mental imagery may contribute to the development of mental disorders. We studied the vividness and controllability of mental imagery in a sample of 42 individuals with recent-onset psychosis, using a cross sectional design. Contrary to earlier studies, the claim that mental imagery is enhanced and the controllability weak in psychotic disorder was not supported. Especially the negative and affective symptoms associated with low vividness, and the stronger the symptoms the patients had, the less vivid was their imagery. Anxiety and self-neglect were the best predictors of low vividness. Only an elevated mood associated with higher vividness. The cognitive performance of the participants did not associate significantly with imagery. Surprisingly, organic modality was reported to be the most vivid modality, whereas visual imagery was the least vivid. Understanding the role of mental imagery in early psychosis may help us to understand and treat these disorders better.

The Role of the SLP in Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening and Assessment

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Philofsky
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Notable Increase ◽  
Screening Assessment ◽  
Critical Components

AbstractRecent prevalence estimates for autism have been alarming as a function of the notable increase. Speech-language pathologists play a critical role in screening, assessment and intervention for children with autism. This article reviews signs that may be indicative of autism at different stages of language development, and discusses the importance of several psychometric properties—sensitivity and specificity—in utilizing screening measures for children with autism. Critical components of assessment for children with autism are reviewed. This article concludes with examples of intervention targets for children with ASD at various levels of language development.

A critical role of iNOS-derived Nitric Oxide (NO) and progesterone in implantation

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 115A-115A
Author(s):  
K CHWALISZ ◽  
E WINTERHAGER ◽  
T THIENEL ◽  
R GARFIELD
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Critical Role
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document