Synopsis
How do we represent information mentally, and how do we use that information to interact with the world? The problem is old and persistent - and complex. The new discipline of cognitive science takes the problem of mental representations as its main domain. Controversy centres on a philosophical issue: empiricism versus rationalism. This book offers a clear analysis of the philosophical roots of this controversy, and a balanced assessment of the merits of different theoretical approaches to cognitive representation. After reviewing the prevailing attitudes among contemporary psychologists, the author provides a systematic account of his dual coding theory of mental representations, which proposes that non-verbal and linguistic phenomena are handled cognitively by two separate subsystems - the imagery and verbal systems. Developmental mechanisms of the dual coding system are discussed, as are individual differences. The system is then related to specific cognitive phenomena, including semantic memory, episodic memory, the manipulation and use of representative information, language comprehension and production, and bilingual cognitive representation
Présentation de l'éditeur
This work presents a systematic analysis of the psychological phenomena associated with the concept of mental representations--also referred to as cognitive or internal representations. A major restatement of a theory the author first developed in his 1971 book (Imagery and Verbal Processes), Mental Representation covers phenomena from the earlier period that remain relevant today but emphasizes cognitive problems and paradigms that have since emerged more fully. The author proposes that performance in memory and other cognitive tasks is mediated not only by linguistic processes but also by a distinct nonverbal imagery model of thought as well. He discusses the philosophy of science associated with the dual coding approach, emphasizing the advantages of empiricism in the study of cognitive phenomena and showing that the fundamentals of the theory have stood up well to empirical challenges over the years. An important contribution to the understanding of form and function of human knowledge, this book will be of interest to students and researchers in cognitive psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, and philosophy.
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