Let us take for experiment six of the best-known types of imaging and see in

practise how they arise in our own minds.

 

By all odds the most common type is, (a) _the visual image_. Children who more

readily recall things seen than things heard are called by psychologists

"eye-minded," and most of us are bent in this direction. Close your eyes now and

re-call--the word thus hyphenated is more suggestive--the scene around this

morning's breakfast table. Possibly there was nothing striking in the situation

and the image is therefore not striking. Then image any notable table scene in

your experience--how vividly it stands forth, because at the time you felt the

impression strongly. Just then you may not have been conscious of how strongly

the scene was laying hold upon you, for often we are so intent upon what we see

that we give no particular thought to the fact that it is impressing us. It may

surprise you to learn how accurately you are able to image a scene when a long

time has elapsed between the conscious focussing of your attention on the image

and the time when you saw the original.

 

(b) _The auditory image_ is probably the next most vivid of our recalled

experiences. Here association is potent to suggest similarities. Close out all

the world beside and listen to the peculiar wood-against-wood sound of the sharp

thunder among rocky mountains--the crash of ball against ten-pins may suggest

it. Or image (the word is imperfect, for it seems to suggest only the eye) the

sound of tearing ropes when some precious weight hangs in danger. Or recall the

bay of a hound almost upon you in pursuit--choose your own sound, and see how

pleasantly or terribly real it becomes when imaged in your brain.