Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

Research on visual imagery has linked it to which of the following structures of the brain?

1. Putamen

2. Hippocampus

3. Reticular formation

4. Basal ganglia

The correct answer is: Hippocampus

The hippocampus is closely associated with visual imagery due to its critical role in memory formation and spatial navigation. Research indicates that the hippocampus is activated during tasks that require the generation or manipulation of visual images, reflecting its involvement in visual memory processes. This structure is particularly important for episodic memory, which includes the ability to visualize and retrieve specific events from one's past, often requiring vivid mental imagery. In contrast, the putamen is primarily involved in motor control and learning, the reticular formation is related to arousal and consciousness, and the basal ganglia are a group of nuclei involved mainly in the regulation of voluntary motor movements and procedural learning. These functions highlight the unique role of the hippocampus in supporting not just memory retrieval but also the evocation of visual imagery, distinguishing it from the other brain structures listed.