1st Edition

Visuo-spatial Working Memory and Individual Differences

By Cesare Cornoldi, Tomaso Vecchi Copyright 2003
    184 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    184 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    In this timely and comprehensive text, Cesare Cornoldi and Tomaso Vecchi describe their recently developed experimental approach to the investigation of visuo-spatial cognition, based upon the analysis of individual differences.
    A review of the most influential theoretical advances in the study of visuo-spatial cognition is presented, including both critical analysis and comparisons between the distinct approaches. In addition, the authors describe recent research into memory for spatial configurations, mental manipulation and the active integration of visuo-spatial information. This includes studies on the effects of congenital blindness on mental imagery abilities, developmental and age-related modifications, gender effects, and the role of genetic syndromes in determining visuo-spatial abilities. The authors draw together these distinct areas of research and integrate the findings within an innovative framework of working memory.
    This text will be a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of psychology, as well as researchers in the fields of cognitive psychology, neuropsychology and neuroscience.

    Introduction. The Study of Individual Differences in Visuo-spatial Abilities. Models and Components of Visuo-spatial Representation and Working Memory. Gender Differences in Visuo-spatial Abilities. Individual Differences in Children's Visuo-spatial Working Memory. Visuo-spatial Working Memory in Ageing. Imagery, Blindness and Visuo-spatial Working Memory. Visuo-spatial Abilities in Genetic Syndromes. A Continuity Approach to Visuo-spatial Working Memory. References.

    Biography

    Cesare Cornoldi, Tomaso Vecchi

    Cornoldi and Vecchi tackle this topic in a coherent and systematic fashion, giving a very convincing demonstration of the scientific value to be gained from an individual differences approach. - Robert H. Logie, University of Aberdeen, UK

    An excellent appreciation of the many subtle conceptual and practical issues that arise in attempting to investigate the nature and function of mental imagery. The theoretical analysis of visuo-spatial working memory is highly original and constitutes a serious challenge for previous accounts. - John T. Richardson, Open University, UK