Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?

Introduction The overlap between imagery and perception has long fascinated philosophers and scientists. Many scientists considered how the mind is capable of constructing an internal world without intervention of the external environment. Descriptions of their core characteristics often draw atten...

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Main Authors: G. Simões, S. Jesus, R. Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018211/type/journal_article
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author G. Simões
S. Jesus
R. Silva
author_facet G. Simões
S. Jesus
R. Silva
author_sort G. Simões
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The overlap between imagery and perception has long fascinated philosophers and scientists. Many scientists considered how the mind is capable of constructing an internal world without intervention of the external environment. Descriptions of their core characteristics often draw attention to differential features, but other currents reveal that many of these are shared rather than unique and differential. Objectives The authors aim to analyse and discuss conceptualisation, similarities and differences of imagery and perception at the level of phenomenology, at the intersection with other psychopathological concepts, and thus reassemble them within a common framework. Methods A brief literature review was developed based on relevant works containing subject matter most relevant to the topic. Results Perception is conceived as a transformation of raw sensory stimuli into sensory information that is then decoded into meaningful at the cortical level. Imagery, in turn, corresponds to the internal mental representation of the world, actively drawn from memory. The differentiation between these concepts at a phenomenological level is analysed and discussed. Additionally, their individual role is evaluated in the pshycopathological expression of alterations of perception such as hallucinations, pseudohallucinations, pareidolic illusions, abnormal imagery, sensory deprivation and also of dreams, in an analytical perspective of integration and simultaneous conceptual differentiation. Conclusions Understanding imagery, its nature and formal characteristics is required for better recognising the nature of perceptions and related psychopathological alterations, as well as the mechanisms uniting these concepts. Further research is needed as these entities represent features of useful clinical and diagnostic significance. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-1034e76098814d8182d5be1064ad25f72023-11-17T05:06:09ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S707S70710.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1821Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?G. Simões0S. Jesus1R. Silva2Baixo Vouga Hospital Centre - EPE, Psychiatry And Mental Health Department, Aveiro, PortugalBaixo Vouga Hospital Centre - EPE, Psychiatry And Mental Health Department, Aveiro, PortugalBaixo Vouga Hospital Centre - EPE, Psychiatry And Mental Health Department, Aveiro, Portugal Introduction The overlap between imagery and perception has long fascinated philosophers and scientists. Many scientists considered how the mind is capable of constructing an internal world without intervention of the external environment. Descriptions of their core characteristics often draw attention to differential features, but other currents reveal that many of these are shared rather than unique and differential. Objectives The authors aim to analyse and discuss conceptualisation, similarities and differences of imagery and perception at the level of phenomenology, at the intersection with other psychopathological concepts, and thus reassemble them within a common framework. Methods A brief literature review was developed based on relevant works containing subject matter most relevant to the topic. Results Perception is conceived as a transformation of raw sensory stimuli into sensory information that is then decoded into meaningful at the cortical level. Imagery, in turn, corresponds to the internal mental representation of the world, actively drawn from memory. The differentiation between these concepts at a phenomenological level is analysed and discussed. Additionally, their individual role is evaluated in the pshycopathological expression of alterations of perception such as hallucinations, pseudohallucinations, pareidolic illusions, abnormal imagery, sensory deprivation and also of dreams, in an analytical perspective of integration and simultaneous conceptual differentiation. Conclusions Understanding imagery, its nature and formal characteristics is required for better recognising the nature of perceptions and related psychopathological alterations, as well as the mechanisms uniting these concepts. Further research is needed as these entities represent features of useful clinical and diagnostic significance. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018211/type/journal_articlePsychopathologyPerceptionImageryalterations of perception
spellingShingle G. Simões
S. Jesus
R. Silva
Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
European Psychiatry
Psychopathology
Perception
Imagery
alterations of perception
title Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
title_full Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
title_fullStr Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
title_full_unstemmed Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
title_short Imagery and perception: where is the phenomenological line?
title_sort imagery and perception where is the phenomenological line
topic Psychopathology
Perception
Imagery
alterations of perception
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018211/type/journal_article
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