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On the relation between motor imagery and visual imagery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Roberta L. Klatzky
Affiliation:
klatzky@cmu.edu; Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Extract

Jeannerod's target article describes support, through empirical and neurological findings, for the intriguing idea of motor imagery, a form of representation hypothesized to have levels of functional equivalence with motor preparation, while being consciously accessible. Jeannerod suggests that the subjectively accessible content of motor imagery allows it to be distinguished from motor preparation, which is unconscious. Motor imagery is distinguished from visual imagery in terms of content. Motor images are kinesthetic in nature; they are parametrized by variables such as force and time and they are potentially governed by kinematic rules. Jeannerod acknowledges, however, that motor and visual imagery may not easily be separated, because actions take place in a spatial environment. I agree; in fact, I suggest here that visualization may generally be concomitant with, and may even subjectively dominate, motor imagery.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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