2009 volume 38(1) pages 79 – 91
doi:10.1068/p5905

Cite as:
Macramalla S, Bridgeman B, 2009, "Anticipated effort in imagined self-rotation" Perception 38(1) 79 – 91
Download citation data in RIS format

Anticipated effort in imagined self-rotation

Steven Macramalla, Bruce Bridgeman

Received 22 August 2007, in revised form 30 June 2008; published online 23 December 2008

Abstract. Chronometric studies provide strong support that mental imagery recruits perceptual processes [Shepard and Cooper, 1982 Mental Images and Their Transformations (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press)]. Recent studies suggest that anticipated effort influences perception (Proffitt et al, 2003 Psychological Science 14 106 – 112). If anticipated effort influences perception and perception supports imagery, then anticipated effort may influence imagery. To examine the role of effort in mental imagery, participants in experiment 1 imagined self-rotation across two conditions of distance. Simulated rotation took 156 ms longer in larger settings, even though the amount of imagined angular rotation was the same in both settings. This finding suggests the start-to-goal arc is incorporated when imagining rotation through a given angle. Experiment 2 replicated the distance effect (232 ms) and added a variable for load. Simulated rotation took 167 ms longer with imaginary heavy loads. The results suggest that both spatial metrics and anticipated effort may play a role in the coding of mental imagery.

This article has supplementary online material: Colour figure

Restricted material:

PDF Full-text PDF size: 323 Kb

HTML References  43 references, 28 with DOI links (Crossref)

Your computer (IP address: 184.73.7.143) has not been recognised as being on a network authorised to view the full text or references of this article. If you are a member of a university library that has a subscription to the journal, please contact your serials librarian (subscriptions information).