Stimuli are energy patterns representing information about objects in environment or body {representation, perception} {internal model}. Mental representation organizes perception and guides behavior. Objects have more than one representation and template, using different viewpoints and/or viewer-centered or absolute coordinates. Mind represents objects by shape, size, orientation, and feature and part relations. Mind stores features and relations in flexible templates.
processes
Parallel and serial information flows convey data for object and event variables. Sense receptors transform energy and code useful information parts. Nervous systems process and store object-and-event information. Information directs muscle and gland actions.
processes: object properties
Mind represents object by shape, size, orientation, and feature and part relations. Visual system encodes object properties of shape, color, and texture. A separate and independent visual system encodes spatial properties of location, size, and orientation.
processes: arrays
Representation can be two-dimensional array coding variable intensities. For example, colorful scenes can be like television screens, with intensity levels for red, green, and blue phosphors at screen points. However, representations cannot be point-for-point copies of visual images, because sense receptors communicate laterally, so points include data from surrounding points.
Representation can be two-dimensional array coding interference pattern intensities. For example, black-and-white scenes can be like holograms, with intensity levels at points determined by illumination phase from all scene points. However, representations are unlikely to be holograms, because mind does not use phase information at sense receptors and mind has no reference beam with which to reconstitute holographic images.
Representations can be sets of two-dimensional arrays, each coding one variable. For example, parallel information pathways can code for red, green, and blue intensities and combine the three later to give net color. Representation uses different topographic maps to code for location, orientation, depth, color, shape, motion, and time. After initial processing for variables, outputs cross-correlate to integrate information.
Representation can be information packets routed through mental networks. Like Internet, mind can divide information into data blocks sent over alternative pathways to destinations, where mind reunites them. Representations probably use information packets, tagged with relations to other packets and timed to synchronize with other packets.
processes: hierarchy
Pre-representations code for intensities and have no meaning. Representations combine innate and remembered information with sense information. Further processing makes semantic object and event relations, and gist allows thoughts and goals. Mind has representation-type hierarchies [Booth and Rolls, 1998] [Posner and Raichle, 1997] [Posner, 1978] [Posner, 1989].
processes: proposition
Mind uses propositions to represent images and describe shapes, without using size or orientation. Mind manipulates images by logical operations on propositions. Propositions can have variables.
coding
Space-time pattern representations use neuron signal-intensity functions. Visual system samples scene at various spatial positions, in sequences based on experience, to derive curvatures, surfaces, textures, reflectances, colors, orientations, eye positions, head position, hand positions, constancies, and co-variances.
coding: analog and digital
Depolarization impulse cycles require one millisecond, so each millisecond axon has depolarization or not. Axons carry OFF/ON signals and so are digital.
At synapses, variations in neurotransmitter vesicle size and release time make analog flow through receptors.
Neural processing has advantages and avoids disadvantages of analog and digital coding. OFF-signals set a steady baseline. ON-signals have equal strengths. Neuron coding has no timing, is not stepwise, and is not linear. Axon coding depends on impulse rate or flow.
coding: codes
Simple code can use neuron average firing frequency. Another simple code can modulate firing frequency, as in FM radio, in which fundamental frequency is like carrier wave. In temporal code, steady frequency is like clock, and frequency changes carry information. Code can superimpose frequencies to make beat frequencies. Code can superimpose frequencies, so axons carry composite signals, and different receptors use different components. Code can be waveforms of frequency sets.
spatial coordinates
Minds use three-dimensional spatial coordinates to navigate, to encode spatial information into memory, to transform images, and to specify feature locations, sizes, and orientations. Mind represents image by specifying intensities at locations in space array. Space array can show object parts, relations, and spatial axes. Representation spatial and temporal relations correspond to actual relations. Mind can manipulate size and orientation.
Minds convert categorical relations to spatial coordinates, and vice versa, to link size, distance, orientation, front/back, and reference frame to classification.
spatial coordinates: types
Mind can use locations relative to retina {retinotopic coordinate} or relative to spatial reference point {spatiotopic coordinate}. Spatiotopic coordinates can be relative to body {body-centered coordinate} {egocentric coordinate} or to another object {allocentric coordinate}. Body-centered coordinates can relate to head {craniotopic}. Mind plans and performs behavior using egocentric coordinates, compensating for body movements. Body movement coordination requires only egocentric space, not images. Egocentric space can transform to conceptual space representations.
Allocentric representations can transform to egocentric representations. Allocentric coordinates can be specific to view {viewer-centered} or object itself {object-centered}.
Mind can specify location in Cartesian coordinates, along X, Y, and Z dimensions from origin, or polar coordinates, by radius and planar and depth angles from origin.
Processes that guide action need coordinates {implicit coordinates}. Processes that store representations need coordinates {explicit coordinates}.
Local coordinates specify part locations, using many separate origins to form interlocking coordinate system. Global coordinates specify part locations relative to one origin.
Topographic maps compute locations in nearby space using body-based coordinates. Topographic maps compute locations in far space using allocentric coordinates.
Not all directions relative to body are equally accessible in image.
Subjects do not image themselves in centers of three-dimensional scenes.
People use viewer-centered coordinates in imagery.
image
Image is private symbol system that specifies local object geometry using categories and coordinates. Mind makes general, specific, and autobiographical images. Unlike perceptions, image has interpreted perceptual units, orients in space, aids event recall, and solves problems. Mind can remember images. Mind cannot readily manipulate image. Image is not picture in the head.
image: scanning
Mind can scan image, and scanning time increases linearly with distance.
image: information
Image information depends on element number and arrangement. Image does not have as much detail as physical object.
image: cue
Eye position can cue access to next image in sequence.
image: spatial frequency
Images do not include perception fundamental spatial frequency.
image: brain
In brain, membrane electrochemical signals can alter molecules that eventually produce enzyme sequences, forming patterns. Enzyme patterns can affect nearby cells or affect transferred nerve signals, making effect cascades. Both hemispheres can generate images.
Brain-damaged patients that cannot recognize faces report that they also cannot image faces. Patients that cannot distinguish colors after suffering brain damage also cannot form mental images that include color. Patients with hemi-neglect cannot see mental-image or dream right or left half.
image: time
Mind requires 100 milliseconds to 200 milliseconds of light to see image. Processing image takes 60 milliseconds to 70 milliseconds [Shiekh, 1983].
image: network
Images have parts and relations. Images are networks of nodes on surfaces and connections of spatial relations. If nodes and connections are abstract-space dimensions, patterns are abstract-space points. Similar images are near each other in state space.
Mind can store center/surround information at several, separated locations {primal image representation}, rather than high-level feature sets.
Internal interaction, past reaction, experience, goal, framework, available information, and action representations {schema, perception}| can direct perceptual exploration {anticipatory schema}. Mind updates integrated prior-movement representations {postural schema} after position changes. Schemas are rule groups. Rules generalize inference patterns. Schemas are for concept formation [Schank and Abelson, 1977] [Schank, 1997].
Animals navigate environment using map with reference point {centroid} and gradient {slope, gradient} {slope-centroid model}. Mind can calculate direction and distance to target by triangulation using centroid and slope.
6-Psychology-Cognition-Perception
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Date Modified: 2022.0225