The visual representational system includes the things we see around us, the visual memories we have of things we have seen, and other pictures that we make up or fantasize in our minds.
When we "see" the real world around us we are actually taking in visual data through our eyes and converting that data into meaningful representations in the visual cortex and other areas of the brain. So when we are looking at the face of a loved one, light enters our eye and triggers receptors in the eye. Data from these receptors travels along the optical nerve to the brain.
Once the data reaches our brain we begin to spot patterns and recognize that this is the face of a loved one. We also begin to make associations, remembering other times that we have seen that face, and we see what we see as a representation including all the memories and associations that we have.
Try a thought experiment now.
- Think of a person you love, think of their face, and notice how you feel as you look at it.
- Now think of a person you dislike, think of their face. Notice how you feel as you do so.
The chances are you felt good when thinking of the face of the person you love, and not so good when thinking of the face of the person you dislike. There are emotional states attached to the simple visual image you see.
Shawn
