Mental representations as an underlying mechanism for human performance

Tenenbaum G, Land WM. Mental representations as an underlying mechanism for human performance. In: Raab M, Johnson J, Heekeren H, eds. Mind and Motion: The Bidirectional Link between Thought and Action. Progress in brain research. Vol 174. Amsterdam : Elsevier BV; 2009: 251-266.This chapter presents a theoretical framework, which is supported by empirical evidence, where changes in human performance are accounted for by changes in mental representation structure (MRS). More specifically, the knowledge base, represented in the form of mental representations, controls the perceptual, cognitive, and motor systems when interacting with the environment. Once this interaction induces pressure, changes in the MRS lead to respective changes in the function of attention, anticipation, long-term working memory, the control system, and the motor systems. Such changes can be detected via both overt and covert behavior of the human system. This chapter presents the theoretical frameworks and accompanies them with graphical illustrations