visuomene

Visuomene is a term that appears in a small subset of cognitive science and media theory literature to describe an assumed interface between visual perception and internal mental representations. It is a neologism without a widely standardized definition, and its usage varies among authors. In some discussions, visuomene refers to how external visual input is transformed into durable internal imagery or memory traces; in others, it denotes the coordination of visual attention with mnemonic content or the design of immersive visual experiences in interactive media.

The concept is often discussed in relation to established constructs such as mental imagery, visuospatial working memory, and perception–action coupling. Proponents use visuomene to emphasize the dynamic, bidirectional exchange between what we see and what we hold in mind, while critics note that the term can be underspecified and overlapping with existing terms that already describe similar processes.

In research and design contexts, visuomene-related ideas appear in theoretical discussions about how visual features are bound to memory and how gaze, attention, and memory interact during task performance. In media and human–computer interaction, the notion has been used to frame approaches to creating more immersive or responsive visual environments by aligning perception with internal representations or expectations.

Because of its limited adoption, there is no single operational definition, measurement protocol, or established set of applications for visuomene. It remains a topic of discussion rather than a formal construct in mainstream science.

See also: mental imagery, visuospatial sketchpad, multimodal perception, perception–action coupling, visual working memory.