Object Imagery Research Articles

Gaze and the Eye Pupil Adjust to Imagined Size and Distance.

Pupillary responses and associated vergence eye movements were monitored during imagery of objects of differing sizes ("large" or "small") from varying distances ("near" or "far"). Objects' imagined size and distance affected oculomotor behavior. Objects visualized as "far" resulted in the larger pupil dilations and smaller visual angle, while small objects imagined "near" were associated with smaller pupils in contrast to relatively larger pupils when imagined as "far" away. Furthermore, near objects resulted in larger visual angle, and particularly, vergence adjustments were observed that were dependent on imagined size and distance of the small objects. The findings are consistent with the idea that imagery emulates perception, also at the embodied level of oculomotor behaviors.

Human V4 Activity Patterns Predict Behavioral Performance in Imagery of Object Color

Color is special among basic visual features in that it can form a defining part of objects that are engrained in our memory. Whereas most neuroimaging research on human color vision has focused on responses related to external stimulation, the present study investigated how sensory-driven color vision is linked to subjective color perception induced by object imagery. We recorded fMRI activity in male and female volunteers during viewing of abstract color stimuli that were red, green, or yellow in half of the runs. In the other half we asked them to produce mental images of colored, meaningful objects (such as tomato, grapes, banana) corresponding to the same three color categories. Although physically presented color could be decoded from all retinotopically mapped visual areas, only hV4 allowed predicting colors of imagined objects when classifiers were trained on responses to physical colors. Importantly, only neural signal in hV4 was predictive of behavioral performance in the color judgment task on a trial-by-trial basis. The commonality between neural representations of sensory-driven and imagined object color and the behavioral link to neural representations in hV4 identifies area hV4 as a perceptual hub linking externally triggered color vision with color in self-generated object imagery. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans experience color not only when visually exploring the outside world, but also in the absence of visual input, for example when remembering, dreaming, and during imagery. It is not known where neural codes for sensory-driven and internally generated hue converge. In the current study we evoked matching subjective color percepts, one driven by physically presented color stimuli, the other by internally generated color imagery. This allowed us to identify area hV4 as the only site where neural codes of corresponding subjective color perception converged regardless of its origin. Color codes in hV4 also predicted behavioral performance in an imagery task, suggesting it forms a perceptual hub for color perception.

Mental rotation training in older adults: The role of practice and strategy.

There is evidence of mental rotation (MR) abilities responding to training even in older adults, but it is still not clear whether such training would have generalized and maintained effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the specific short- and long-term gains, and any transfer effects, induced by rotation training in healthy older adults. The study involved 43 healthy older adults: 14 practiced with 2 MR tasks, that is, a 3D same/different comparisons task and a Tetris game (the Mental Rotation [MR] group); 15 were trained to use a strategy based on concrete object manipulation and imagery, then practiced with the 2 rotation tasks (Strategy [S] + MR group); and 14 were involved in alternative nonspatial activities (active control group). Transfer and maintenance effects were assessed (after 1 month) using tasks similar to those used in the training (criterion tasks), different spatial tasks (mental rotation and perspective taking tasks) and a fluid intelligence task. The results showed a trend toward an improvement in successive training sessions. The S + MR and MR groups both gained substantially more than the active control group in the short- and long-term, in the criterion tasks and most of the tasks testing transfer effects. The S + MR group showed greater long-term gains than the MR group in most tasks. These findings support a positive effect of rotation training in older adults, particularly when associated with strategy use. (PsycINFO Database Record

Human V4 Activity Patterns Predict Behavioral Performance in Imagery of Object Color.

Color is special among basic visual features in that it can form a defining part of objects that are engrained in our memory. Whereas most neuroimaging research on human color vision has focused on responses related to external stimulation, the present study investigated how sensory-driven color vision is linked to subjective color perception induced by object imagery. We recorded fMRI activity in male and female volunteers during viewing of abstract color stimuli that were red, green, or yellow in half of the runs. In the other half we asked them to produce mental images of colored, meaningful objects (such as tomato, grapes, banana) corresponding to the same three color categories. Although physically presented color could be decoded from all retinotopically mapped visual areas, only hV4 allowed predicting colors of imagined objects when classifiers were trained on responses to physical colors. Importantly, only neural signal in hV4 was predictive of behavioral performance in the color judgment task on a trial-by-trial basis. The commonality between neural representations of sensory-driven and imagined object color and the behavioral link to neural representations in hV4 identifies area hV4 as a perceptual hub linking externally triggered color vision with color in self-generated object imagery.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans experience color not only when visually exploring the outside world, but also in the absence of visual input, for example when remembering, dreaming, and during imagery. It is not known where neural codes for sensory-driven and internally generated hue converge. In the current study we evoked matching subjective color percepts, one driven by physically presented color stimuli, the other by internally generated color imagery. This allowed us to identify area hV4 as the only site where neural codes of corresponding subjective color perception converged regardless of its origin. Color codes in hV4 also predicted behavioral performance in an imagery task, suggesting it forms a perceptual hub for color perception.

Method of radiometric quality assessment of NIR images acquired with a custom sensor mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle

Unmanned aerial vehicles are suited to various photogrammetry and remote sensing missions. Such platforms are equipped with various optoelectronic sensors imaging in the visible and infrared spectral ranges and also thermal sensors. Nowadays, near-infrared (NIR) images acquired from low altitudes are often used for producing orthophoto maps for precision agriculture among other things. One major problem results from the application of low-cost custom and compact NIR cameras with wide-angle lenses introducing vignetting. In numerous cases, such cameras acquire low radiometric quality images depending on the lighting conditions. The paper presents a method of radiometric quality assessment of low-altitude NIR imagery data from a custom sensor. The method utilizes statistical analysis of NIR images. The data used for the analyses were acquired from various altitudes in various weather and lighting conditions. An objective NIR imagery quality index was determined as a result of the research. The results obtained using this index enabled the classification of images into three categories: good, medium, and low radiometric quality. The classification makes it possible to determine the a priori error of the acquired images and assess whether a rerun of the photogrammetric flight is necessary.

Association between Social Anxiety and Visual Mental Imagery of Neutral Scenes: The Moderating Role of Effortful Control.

According to cognitive theories, verbal processing attenuates emotional processing, whereas visual imagery enhances emotional processing and contributes to the maintenance of social anxiety. Individuals with social anxiety report negative mental images in social situations. However, the general ability of visual mental imagery of neutral scenes in individuals with social anxiety is still unclear. The present study investigated the general ability of non-emotional mental imagery (vividness, preferences for imagery vs. verbal processing, and object or spatial imagery) and the moderating role of effortful control in attenuating social anxiety. The participants (N = 231) completed five questionnaires. The results showed that social anxiety was not necessarily associated with all aspects of mental imagery. As suggested by theories, social anxiety was not associated with a preference for verbal processing. However, social anxiety was positively correlated with the visual imagery scale, especially the object imagery scale, which concerns the ability to construct pictorial images of individual objects. Further, it was negatively correlated with the spatial imagery scale, which concerns the ability to process information about spatial relations between objects. Although object imagery and spatial imagery positively and negatively predicted the degree of social anxiety, respectively, these effects were attenuated when socially anxious individuals had high effortful control. Specifically, in individuals with high effortful control, both object and spatial imagery were not associated with social anxiety. Socially anxious individuals might prefer to construct pictorial images of individual objects in natural scenes through object imagery. However, even in individuals who exhibit these features of mental imagery, effortful control could inhibit the increase in social anxiety.

The cognitive tools that support mentally constructing event and scene representations

ABSTRACTConstructing mental representations is critical for many cognitive tasks, yet it is unclear if forming different representations relies on distinct cognitive processes. We tested how episodic memory contributes to constructing scene and event-based mental scenarios as well as the effects of two types of imagery ability (object and spatial imagery) on this contribution. Forty participants were given a series of scenario cues that were classified as scenes (e.g., a beach) or events (e.g., a family meal) by independent raters. To these cues, the participants described the details of the associated mental representation. They also rated the representation for vividness, sense of presence, and if forming the representation stimulated the retrieval of an autobiographical memory. The resulting descriptions were then scored for number of contained episodic and non-episodic details. We found participants generated more details – particularly episodic – for event than scene representations. Interestingly, episodic detail generation was predicted by subjective ratings for the scene and not event representations. Other rating differences were that scenes were experienced with a greater sense of presence and events were more likely to trigger autobiographical memory retrieval. Finally, we found dissociation in how object and spatial imagery ability related to event representations. For these representations, generating episodic and non-episodic details related to object and spatial imagery, respectively. These findings indicate how the nature of a representation directs contributions from episodic memory and are affected by imagery ability.

Enhanced mental imagery and intact perceptual organization in schizotypal personality disorder

According to a widely held view, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are characterized by a vague boundary between the perception of the external world and the inner imagery of persons, objects, and events. In this study, we addressed the perception-imagery debate in schizotypal personality disorder (SPD). Thirty individuals with SPD and 30 matched healthy subjects completed a lateral masking task. Participants were asked to detect a low-contrast Gabor patch flanked by two collinear Gabor masks. In the perceptual task, the masks were physically present, whereas in the imagery task, participants only imagined the masks. By applying a binocular rivalry paradigm, we also measured the imagery priming effect. Results revealed that, in the perceptual task, collinear masks similarly decreased contrast threshold in SPD and controls. In the imagery task, contrast threshold reduction (facilitation by the imagined masks) was more pronounced in SPD relative to the controls. In the binocular rivalry paradigm, individuals with SPD showed higher imagery priming effects as compared to healthy controls. Enhanced imagery was not related to schizotypal traits. These results indicate intact early visual perception and heightened imagery in SPD, which may be a trait marker of unusual experiences without psychotic disorganization.

The blind mind: No sensory visual imagery in aphantasia

For most people the use of visual imagery is pervasive in daily life, but for a small group of people the experience of visual imagery is entirely unknown. Research based on subjective phenomenology indicates that otherwise healthy people can completely lack the experience of visual imagery, a condition now referred to as aphantasia. As congenital aphantasia has thus far been based on subjective reports, it remains unclear whether individuals are really unable to imagine visually, or if they have very poor metacognition – they have images in their mind, but are blind to them. Here we measured sensory imagery in subjectively self-diagnosed aphantasics, using the binocular rivalry paradigm, as well as measuring their self-rated object and spatial imagery with multiple questionnaires (VVIQ, SUIS and OSIQ). Unlike, the general population, experimentally naive aphantasics showed almost no imagery-based rivalry priming. Aphantasic participants' self-rated visual object imagery was significantly below average, however their spatial imagery scores were above average. These data suggest that aphantasia is a condition involving a lack of sensory and phenomenal imagery, and not a lack of metacognition. The possible underlying neurological cause of aphantasia is discussed as well as future research directions.

Do haptic imagery and haptic importance increase psychological ownership for objects?

Do haptic imagery and haptic importance increase psychological ownership for objects?

Worker-Contributed Data Utility Measurement for Visual Crowdsensing Systems

Visual crowdsensing is successfully applied in numerous application areas, yet little work has been done on measuring and improving the quality of worker contributed visual data. Rather than evaluating the visual quality based on traditional metrics such as resolution, we focus on data diversity, which is crucial for a broad stream of visual crowdsensing tasks. Two representative diversity-oriented task types are studied, namely static object imagery and evolving event photography. The former aims to collect multi-facet/aspect yet low redundant data about a stationary object, while the latter wants to detect and collect details of key scenes throughout an event. We link these quality needs with data utility and propose a unified visual crowdsensing framework called UtiPay. Data utility is characterized by the macro and micro diversity needs: at the macro level, the pyramid-tree approach is proposed for multi-attribute-based data grouping; at the micro level, we use several strategies for intra-group data selection and worker contribution measurement. To study the impact of our proposed utility measurement approaches, we propose two utility-enhanced payment schemes as incentive mechanisms: Uti and Uti-Bid . Experiments over several user studies with a total of 43 subjects validate the performance of UtiPay for measuring and enhancing the data quality of visual crowdsensing tasks.

Handedness effects of imagined fine motor movements

ABSTRACTPrevious studies of movement imagery have found inter-individual differences in the ability to imagine whole-body movements. The majority of these studies have used subjective scales to measure imagery ability, which may be confounded by other factors related to effort. Madan and Singhal [2013. Introducing TAMI: An objective test of ability in movement imagery. Journal of Motor Behavior, 45(2), 153–166. doi:10.1080/00222895.2013.763764] developed the Test of Ability in Movement Imagery (TAMI) to address these confounds by using a multiple-choice format with objectively correct responses. Here we developed a novel movement imagery questionnaire targeted at assessing movement imagery of fine-motor hand movements. This questionnaire included two subscales: Functionally-involved Movement (i.e., tool-related) and Isolated Movement (i.e., hand-only). Hand-dominance effects were observed, such that right-handed participants were significantly better at responding to right-hand questions compared to left-hand questions for both imagery types. A stronger handedness effect was observed for Functionally-involved Movement imagery, and it did not correlate with the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. We propose that the Functionally-involved Movement imagery subscale provides an objective hand imagery test that induces egocentric spatial processing and a greater involvement of memory processes, potentially providing a better skill-based measure of handedness.

Reduced orbitofrontal cortical volume is associated with interdependent self-construal

Interdependent self-construal refers to a view of the self as embedded in relationships with others. Prior work suggests that this construal is linked to a strong value placed on social obligations and duties. Interdependent people are therefore cognitively attuned to others and various social events in their surroundings while down-regulating their personal goals. In the present work, we examined whether structural properties of the brain predict interdependent self-construal. We performed a structural magnetic resonance imaging on 135 Japanese young adults while assessing (i) independent and interdependent self-construals and (ii) the degree to which individuals form vivid images of external objects (object imagery). The cortical volume of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (a core cortical region responsible for value-based decisionmaking and, thus, inherently involved in personal goals and desires) inversely predicted interdependent self-construal. Further analysis found that the highest level of interdependent self-construal is achieved when those who are relatively low in the OFC volume are simultaneously high in object imagery, consistent with previous evidence that interdependence, as realized via obligation and duty, requires both the reduced self-interest and vigilant cognitive attunement to environmental context.

The differential contributions of visual imagery constructs on autobiographical thinking

ABSTRACTThere is a growing theoretical and empirical consensus on the central role of visual imagery in autobiographical memory. However, findings from studies that explore how individual differences in visual imagery are reflected on autobiographical thinking do not present a coherent story. One reason for the mixed findings was suggested to be the treatment of visual imagery as an undifferentiated construct while evidence shows that there is more than one type of visual imagery. The present study investigates the relative contributions of different imagery constructs; namely, object and spatial imagery, on autobiographical memory processes. Additionally, it explores whether a similar relation extends to imagining the future. The results indicate that while object imagery was significantly correlated with several phenomenological characteristics, such as the level of sensory and perceptual details for past events – but not for future events – spatial imagery predicted the level of episodic specificity for both past and future events. We interpret these findings as object imagery being recruited in tasks of autobiographical memory that employ reflective processes while spatial imagery is engaged during direct retrieval of event details. Implications for the role of visual imagery in autobiographical thinking processes are discussed.

Object-Spatial Imagery and Verbal Cognitive Styles in High School Students.

The present study investigated object-spatial imagery and verbal cognitive styles in high school students. We analyzed the relationships between cognitive styles, object imagery ability, spatial visualization ability, verbal-logical reasoning ability, and preferred modes of processing math information. Data were collected from 348 students at six high schools in two school districts. Spatial imagery style was not correlated with object imagery style and was negatively correlated with verbal style. Object imagery style did not correlate significantly with any cognitive ability measure, whereas spatial imagery style significantly correlated with object imagery ability, spatial visualization ability, and verbal-logical reasoning ability. Lastly, spatial imagery style and verbal-logical reasoning ability significantly predicted students' preference for efficient visual methods. The results support the cognitive style model, in which visualizers are characterized as two distinct groups who process visual-spatial information and graphic tasks in different ways.

More Evidence for Three Types of Cognitive Style: Validating the Object‐Spatial Imagery and Verbal Questionnaire Using Eye Tracking when Learning with Texts and Pictures

SummaryThere is some indication that people differ regarding their visual and verbal cognitive style. The Object‐Spatial Imagery and Verbal Questionnaire (OSIVQ) assumes a three‐dimensional cognitive style model, which distinguishes between object imagery, spatial imagery and verbal dimensions. Using eye tracking as a means to observe actual gaze behaviours when learning with text–picture combinations, the current study aims to validate this three‐dimensional assumption by linking the OSIVQ to learning behaviour. The results largely confirm the model in that they show the expected correlations between results on the OSIVQ, visuo‐spatial ability and learning behaviour. Distinct differences between object visualizers, spatial visualizers and verbalizers could be demonstrated.© 2016 The Authors Applied Cognitive Psychology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Is object imagery central to artistic performance?

The aim of this study was to examine the type of cognitive style of Fine Art students, and assess the weight of cognitive style in artistic production. A three-dimensional model of cognitive style that distinguishes between object imagery, spatial imagery, and verbal processing was used. The sample consisted of 125 Fine Art students (65 women and 60 men). Participants were administered the Object-Spatial Imagery and Verbal Questionnaire (OSIVQ), and two imagery tests. Moreover, undergraduates completed a plastic art assignment that was assessed by an artist and lecturer in drawing, and by a professor in the Psychology of Art. Fine Art undergraduates exhibited object rather than verbal or spatial types of processing. The weight of object imagery type was found to be significant on technical skill and visual impact, which were precisely the variables most related with visual processing in the plastic art assignment. Thus innovative lines of research are proposed.

Individual differences in visual imagery determine how event information is remembered

ABSTRACTIndividuals differ in how they mentally imagine past events. When reminiscing about a past experience, some individuals remember the event accompanied by rich visual images, while others will remember it with few of these images. In spite of the implications that these differences in the use of imagery have to the understanding of human memory, few studies have taken them into consideration. We examined how imagery interference affecting event memory retrieval was differently modulated by spatial and object imagery ability. We presented participants with a series of video-clips depicting complex events. Participants subsequently answered true/false questions related to event, spatial, or feature details contained in the videos, while simultaneously viewing stimuli that interfered with visual imagery processes (dynamic visual noise; DVN) or a control grey screen. The impact of DVN on memory accuracy was related to individual differences in spatial imagery ability. Individuals high in spatial imagery were less accurate at recalling details from the videos when simultaneously viewing the DVN stimuli compared to those low in spatial imagery ability. This finding held for questions related to the event and spatial details but not feature details. This study advocates for the inclusion of individual differences when studying memory processes.

Vividness of Object and Spatial Imagery.

Vividness is one of the fundamental characteristics of visual mental imagery. The first research goal was to examine whether vividness that refer to imagery of pictorial object (color, texture, or shape) versus spatial (three dimensional structure, location, or mechanism) properties constitute separate vividness dimensions. The second goal was to develop a vividness questionnaire separately assessing dimensions of imagery vividness. In Study 1, 111 students (M age = 21.8 years, SD = 1.3) evaluated the vividness of imagery evoked by nine object and nine spatial items from the pilot version of the new Vividness of Object and Spatial Imagery (VOSI) questionnaire, completed a self-report assessment of object and spatial imagery, and rated their aptitudes in art and science. Analysis indicated that imagery vividness comprised object and spatial dimensions. Object vividness items were positively associated with the self-report measure and ratings of artistic abilities, whereas spatial vividness items were positively associated with self-report measure and ratings of science abilities. In Study 2, an independent sample of 205 students (M age = 21 years, SD = 1.7) completed the second version of the VOSI, art and science aptitude ratings, and a number of self-report and performance measures assessing object and spatial imagery. Object and spatial imagery vividness items loaded on factors with 28 retained items; this two-factor vividness model fit the data better than a unidimensional vividness model. The questionnaire had satisfactory Cronbach's α for object vividness scale (.88) and for spatial vividness scale (.85). Correlational analyses supported convergent and discriminative validity of the VOSI. While object imagery vividness and spatial imagery vividness share some underlying vividness variance, they are dissociated into separate dimensions.

Object-spatial Visualization and Verbal Cognitive Styles, and Their Relation to Cognitive Abilities and Mathematical Performance

The visualizer-verbalizer cognitive style dimension has been of considerable interest to researchers for many years. In these studies, students were identified as either visualizers or verbalizers, and significant differences favoring verbalizers were found in cognitive abilities and mathematical performance. Kozhevnikov, Hegarty, and Mayer (2002) and Kozhevnikov, Motes, and Hegarty (2007) have provided evidence for two distinct groups of visualizers-object and spatial visualizers-who process visual-spatial information and graphic tasks in different ways and further explained why the visualizer-verbalizer classification led to inconsistent findings in previous research studies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in cognitive abilities and mathematical performance of high school students related to differences in their object-spatial visualization and verbal cognitive styles.Visualizer-verbalizer Cognitive StyleThe lack of a relationship between self-reports of visual-verbal cognitive style and both cognitive abilities and mathematical performance has been reported in the literature (e.g., Hegarty & Kozhevnikov, 1999; Lean & Clements, 1981). Researchers (e.g., Bishop, 1983, 1989; Dean & Morris, 2003; Guay, McDaniel, & Angelo, 1978; Krutetskii, 1976; Lohman, 1979; McAvinue & Robertson, 2006-2007; Presmeg, 2006) have presented hypotheses to account for the lack of a relationship between selfreports of the visual cognitive style and spatial ability: (a) Self-report instruments are not reliable and have poor predictive validity; (b) Spatial ability tests are susceptible to alternative solutions and often measure different abilities for different people; (c) Individuals who have the ability to generate and manipulate visual images might prefer not to do so when the use of visual processes is not required; (d) Items of spatial ability tests and self-report instruments measure different properties and processes of visual imagery. However, Kozhevnikov, Hegarty, and Mayer (2002) and Kozhevnikov, Kosslyn, and Shepard (2005) pointed to the visualizer-verbalizer classification as a factor that has led to inconsistent results in previous studies. According to Kozhevnikov and her associates, visualizers are not a homogenous group with respect to their spatial ability but rather consist of two distinct groups- object and spatial visualizers-who differ in processing visual-spatial information and graphic tasks, and thus, significant relationships can be found between visual cognitive style, spatial ability, and mathematical performance if visualizers are divided into these two distinct groups.Some individuals use object imagery to construct detailed images of objects, which hinder effective spatial transformations and successful performance on spatial and mathematical tasks. Others use spatial imagery to create images representing spatial relations among objects, which facilitates efficient spatial transformations and successful performance on spatial and mathematical tasks. Object imagery characterizes color, vividness, shapes, or details of objects, whereas spatial imagery depicts spatial locations or relations between objects. When presented with the graph of a function and asked to draw the derivative graph, object and spatial visualizers used distinct strategies to interpret the graphs of functions. For instance, object visualizers constructed detailed images of slopes of tangent lines, but failed to transform them into derivative graphs, but spatial visualizers were able to visualize the changing slope of tangent lines as well as transform them into derivative graphs (Haciomeroglu, 2015; Haciomeroglu, Aspinwall, & Presmeg, 2010).Recent research studies (e.g., Thomas & McKay, 2010; Pitta-Pantazi & Christou, 2010) have also provided support for the distinction between object and spatial imagery cognitive styles. In their studies with prospective teachers, Delice and Sevimli (2010) and Sevimli and Delice (2011a; 2011b; 2011c; 2012) developed case studies to examine students' preferences for representations as they attempted to evaluate definite integrals presented in different representations. …