Verbal and visual processing of information: experimental research

The article is devoted to the experimental study of processing visual information. We assumed the processing of visual information happens in one of two ways - as a consistency of visual images in our mind (these images were called secondary images in perception psychology), or it happens as a verbal process without any images in mind. The problem seems likely to be connected with functional asymmetry of the brain. We conducted an associative experiment, where 13 pictures were used as stimuli. Pictures were shown on the projector screen, and our respondents had to react on each by presenting three associations which constitute associative series (the term of A. N. Leontiev). A. N. Leontiev believed associative series (if we consider them as a whole complex) are representation or reflection of higher forms of thinking. We considered series of associations as a material where we can find evidences of visual or language processing of information. For that we have distinguished three types of association: language processing of information, visual processing, and another way, which was called ''external'' or ''situational'' association (we assume these associations can be compared with scripting frames by M. Minsky). Overall about 800 associative series were collected. Associative series which represent visual processing constitute 26 % of all associative series. Language processing was presented in 46 % of all series. ''External'' series constitute 74 % (all types of associative series have crossing areas). The third type is more complete and it is typical for the description of situations which are familiar to subjects, and their knowledge about these situations is undivided. All three groups of associative series were described in the article, and our reasons (grammatical and semantic) for their separation were also considered, such as indications of size, form or color, syntagmatic or paradigmatic relations within associative series, indications of subject's bodily involvement in a situation and others. The experiment showed that our theory and method need further clarification and elaboration.

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