Opinion of Module 2.1

MODULE 2.1 Alice B.

Keeping in mind characteristics of mirror neurons, consider how imagery and cognitive mapping extend to areas that concern language and experience that do not have a spatial or vision aspect. Do imagery and cognitive mapping advance memory in these areas?

Cognitive mapping is a term that can be used to refer to the representation of experience, while mental imagery can be characterized as a form of experience (Aguirrea & Esposito, 1999). Most often the imagery experience can be understood by the subjects, for example, echoes. Thus, imagery has commonly been associated and believed to play a significant role in motivation and memory (Aguirrea & Esposito, 1999). According to Aguirrea and Esposito (1999), psychologists often believe that imagery and cognitive mapping has a central involvement in spatial reasoning and even creative thinking. Moreover, it plays a vital role in all the thoughts processes, thus, providing a semantic basis for language, and that the imagery experience is deeply entrenched in the language memory. The spatial representation memory may rely on various sources for information, which also includes the language. Representation and cognitive mapping are related to the human sense. This suggests that the most sensory modes for the storage of the mental representation the more likely one would remember, inferring that images are stored in the memory of an individual (Allen& Barwise, 1996). According to Allen and Barwise (1996), these models have cognitive connectors that can be used to make a relationship between the pictures and the information held in the long-term memory.

Aguirre, G., K. and Esposito, M. (1999). Topographical disorientation: A synthesis and taxonomy. Brain, 122, 1613-1628.

 Allen, G. and Barwise, J. Editors (1996). Logical reasoning with diagram. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Deborah Hill 

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Re:Module 2 DQ 1

Keeping in mind characteristics of mirror neurons, consider how imagery and cognitive mapping extend to areas that concern language and experience that do not have a spatial or vision aspect. Do imagery and cognitive mapping advance memory in these areas? Why or why not?

Mirror neurons are visual motor response neurons that serve the cognitive process and learning through imitation. These neurons activate stimulus reactions that produce the same reaction when individuals perform an action or are exposed to behaviors produced by others (Goldstein, 2011).  For instance, infants learn how to clap their hands through watching the movements of their parents, such as playing  "Patty Cake" that teaches communications through movements as they follow jestures such as waving goodbye and smiling. Researchers contend that cognitive neuroscience is the foundation of learning (Lacoste-Badie, Droulers, 2014).  

Information processing not only rely upon what one sees, but what individuals do not see according studies related to the cogenitally blind. Results from studies demonstrate  how blind persons activate different centers in the brain in order to achieve advanced memory for navigated routes. Initially they use other environmental cues to create the images and mapping, and then if these environmental cues are reduced they are able to retrieve these maps to navigate successful without the external cues (Gagnon et al, 2012). The results of these findings shows how that both imagery and cognitive mapping assist and advance memory.

References:

 Gagnon L., Schneider F.C., Siebner H.R., Paulson O.B., Kupers R., & Ptito M., (2012). Activation of the hippocampal complex during tactile maze solving in congenitally blind subjects. Neuropsychologia. 50, 1663-1671.

Goldstein E.B., (2011). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and everyday

Lacoste-Badie, Sophie, and Olivier Droulers. 2014. "Advertising Memory: The Power of Mirror Neurons." Journal Of Neuroscience, Psychology, & Economics 7, no. 4: 195-202. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 3, 2015).