Using eye movements to explore mental representations of space.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Psychology

Background:

• Visual mental imagery activates representations without external stimuli.
• Analogical theory posits pictorial mental representations preserving spatial details.
• Mental visualization shares similarities with visual perception, including eye movements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review theories on eye movements and mental representations.
• To explore ocular-tracking as a tool for studying spatial mental representations.
• To investigate altered spatial representations in pathological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing theories and supporting studies.
• Discussion of ocular-tracking methodologies.
• Examples of research on visual mental imagery and eye movements.

Main Results:

• Eye movements during mental visualization mirror the spatial content and deformations of mental images.
• Ocular-tracking can reflect asymmetries and size reductions in mental representations.
• Studies support the link between eye movements and the spatial nature of mental imagery.

Conclusions:

• Eye movements provide insights into the spatial dynamics of visual mental imagery.
• Ocular-tracking is a valuable tool for exploring spatial mental representations.
• This approach can help understand altered representations in conditions like unilateral spatial neglect.