Neuroimaging of Mental Imagery: A Special Issue of the European Journal of Cognitive Psychology The development of neuroimaging techniques has revolutionized our understanding of the human brain and its functions. One area that has seen significant progress is the study of mental imagery, which refers to the experience of mentally picturing or visualizing objects, events, or scenarios. This special issue of the European Journal of Cognitive Psychology focuses on the latest research in neuroimaging of mental imagery, providing insights into the neural processes underlying this complex cognitive phenomenon. The first article, "The Role of Mental Imagery in Human Cognition by Smith and colleagues, provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on mental imagery and its importance in various cognitive tasks. The authors discuss the different types of mental imagery, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic imagery, and their role in memory formation, problem-solving, and decision-making. They also highlight the need for further research on the neural mechanisms of mental imagery to better understand its function in the brain. In the second article, "Neural Correlates of Mental Imagery by Johnson and colleagues, the authors use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of mental imagery. They find that mental imagery engages a network of brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, the parietal lobe, and the temporal lobe, and that these regions show distinct patterns of activity depending on the type of imagery being used. This study provides valuable insight into the neural processes underlying mental imagery and has important implications for our understanding of human cognition.

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