This research focuses on the ability to generate mental images, or """"""""see with the mind's eye."""""""" The first goal of the research is to learn about the organization and neural localization of image generation by studying the image generation abilities of brain-damaged patients. The specific questions addressed are: What are the separable components of image generation ability? What parts of the brain are critical for these components? The second goal of the research proposed here is to clarify the nature of the underlying cognitive deficit in certain types of visual/spatial disorders that follow brain-damage. This aspect of the research involves testing the hypothesis that a loss of imagery ability underlies the following clinically relevant visual/spatial disorders: Visual retention deficits, visuo-constructive deficits, and topographic disorientation. The methodology consists of administering a set of tasks designed to selectively tap different components and type of image generation (detailed visual, """"""""sheletal"""""""" visual, and auditory) to a variety of patients selected either for lesion location (right, left, anterior, posterior) or visual/spatial deficit (topographic disorientation, constructional apraxia, visual retention deficit). Degree of association or dissociation between different types of image generation will reveal the organization of image generation. Relations between image generation deficit and lesion location will reveal critical brain areas for image generation (including testing a specific hypothesis about the localization of visual image generation). Correlations between clinical visual/spatial deficits and image generation deficits will test hypotheses about the role of imagery deficits in clinically relevant disorders.
| Tanaka, J W; Farah, M J (1993) Parts and wholes in face recognition. Q J Exp Psychol A 46:225-45 |
| Farah, M J; Soso, M J; Dasheiff, R M (1992) Visual angle of the mind's eye before and after unilateral occipital lobectomy. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 18:241-6 |
| Tanaka, J W; Farah, M J (1991) Second-order relational properties and the inversion effect: testing a theory of face perception. Percept Psychophys 50:367-72 |
| Kung, M P; Liu, B L; Yang, Y Y et al. (1991) A kit formulation for preparation of iodine-123-IBZM: a new CNS D-2 dopamine receptor imaging agent. J Nucl Med 32:339-42 |
| Farah, M J; McMullen, P A; Meyer, M M (1991) Can recognition of living things be selectively impaired? Neuropsychologia 29:185-93 |
| Farah, M J; Brunn, J L; Wong, A B et al. (1990) Frames of reference for allocating attention to space: evidence from the neglect syndrome. Neuropsychologia 28:335-47 |
| Farah, M J (1989) The neural basis of mental imagery. Trends Neurosci 12:395-9 |
| Farah, M J; Hammond, K M; Mehta, Z et al. (1989) Category-specificity and modality-specificity in semantic memory. Neuropsychologia 27:193-200 |
| Farah, M J; Wong, A B; Monheit, M A et al. (1989) Parietal lobe mechanisms of spatial attention: modality-specific or supramodal? Neuropsychologia 27:461-70 |
| Farah, M J (1989) Mechanisms of imagery-perception interaction. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 15:203-11 |
Showing the most recent 10 out of 16 publications
