Reopening the mental imagery debate: lessons from functional anatomy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• The neural basis of mental imagery has been extensively investigated using neuroimaging techniques like PET and fMRI.
• Previous research has explored the cortical anatomy underlying mental imagery, leading to new insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current understanding of the neural correlates of mental imagery.
• To examine the extent to which mental imagery relies on specific visual processing areas.
• To investigate the overlap between mental imagery networks and other cognitive functions.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing neuroimaging studies (PET, fMRI) on mental imagery.
• Analysis of findings regarding the involvement of primary/early visual areas versus higher-order visual areas.
• Examination of evidence for shared neural resources with language, memory, and movement.

Main Results:

• Mental imagery does not exclusively depend on primary/early visual areas; some forms recruit higher-order visual regions.
• A consensus supports the dorsal/ventral-route model within the domain of mental imagery.
• Mental imagery shares common brain areas with other cognitive functions, including language, memory, and movement, contingent on task demands.

Conclusions:

• There is no single, unique cortical network for mental imagery.
• The neural basis of mental imagery is characterized by extensive interactions with other cognitive systems.
• Understanding mental imagery requires considering its integration with broader cognitive processes.