Using Eye Movements and Spoken Discourse as Windows to Inner Space
Author
Editor
- C. Paradis
- J. Hudson
- U. Magnusson
Summary, in English
The purpose of this paper is to show how eye-tracking methodology can be used to study ‘inner space’; both from a theoretical point of view – the existence (or not) of internal image representations – as well as from an applied point of view – the usage of mental imagery in thinking and reasoning.
First, we introduce the reader to the mental imagery debate. Second, we summarize studies on mental imagery in different areas of research. Third, we focus on our studies, described in Johansson, Holsanova and Holmqvist (2005, 2006), where we developed a method to study ‘inner space’, and showed that eye movements do to a high degree reflect spatiality during visualizations of both pictures and spoken scene descriptions. Fourth, we discuss theoretical implications, advantages and limitations of this methodology and relate them to current theories of mental imagery, perception and mental simulation. Fifth, we mention relevant application areas and show how our method can be used in thinking and reasoning.
First, we introduce the reader to the mental imagery debate. Second, we summarize studies on mental imagery in different areas of research. Third, we focus on our studies, described in Johansson, Holsanova and Holmqvist (2005, 2006), where we developed a method to study ‘inner space’, and showed that eye movements do to a high degree reflect spatiality during visualizations of both pictures and spoken scene descriptions. Fourth, we discuss theoretical implications, advantages and limitations of this methodology and relate them to current theories of mental imagery, perception and mental simulation. Fifth, we mention relevant application areas and show how our method can be used in thinking and reasoning.
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
9-28
Publication/Series
The Construal of Spatial Meaning : Windows into Conceptual Space
Links
Document type
Book chapter
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Topic
- Human Aspects of ICT
Keywords
- eye-tracking
- mental imagery
- verbal reports
- spatial cognition
- visual attention
- mental models
- spatial language
Status
Published
Project
- Thinking in Time: Cognition, Communication and Learning
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 9780199641635
- ISBN: 9780191760020