Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - April 2002 - Volume 25, Issue 02  


Short Communication

Mental imagery doesn't work like that

Stephen M. Kosslyn a1, William L. Thompson a1 and Giorgio Ganis a1
a1 Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 smk@wjh.harvard.edu www.wjh.harvard.edu/~kwn/

Abstract

This commentary focuses on four major points: (1) “Tacit knowledge” is not a complete explanation for imagery phenomena, if it is an explanation at all. (2) Similarities and dissimilarities between imagery and perception are entirely consistent with the depictive view. (3) Knowledge about the brain is crucial for settling the debate. (4) It is not clear what sort of theory Pylyshyn advocates.