title: "Minding the gap": imagination, creativity and human cognition.
abstract: Inquiry into the nature of mental images is a major topic in psychology where research is focused on the psychological faculties of imagination and creativity. In this paper, we draw on the work of L.S. Vygotsky to develop a cultural-historical approach to the study of imagination as central to human cognitive processes. We characterize imagination as a process of image making that resolves "gaps" arising from biological and cultural-historical constraints, and that enables ongoing time-space coordination necessary for thought and action. After presenting some basic theoretical considerations, we offer a series of examples to illustrate for the reader the diversity of processes of imagination as image making. Applying our arguments to contemporary digital media, we argue that a cultural-historical approach to image formation is important for understanding how imagination and creativity are distinct, yet inter-penetrating processes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA. epelapra@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelaprat
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001766:Blindness / Q000266:history; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D019336:Cognitive Science; D003405:Creativity; D003469:Culture; D003638:Deafness / Q000266:history; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history; D012938:Social Perception