River passes by a bakery and smells bread baking. They immediately develop a representation of their father standing in the kitchen, baking breads and desserts for a dinner party. What has River created? a. Sensory thought b. Mental images c. Episodic sensation d. Heuristic

The correct answer is **b. Mental images**.<br /><br />Here's why:<br /><br />* **Mental images** are mental representations that stand in for objects or events and have a picture-like quality. River's experience of smelling the bread and then picturing their father baking is a classic example of creating a mental image.<br /><br />Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:<br /><br />* **Sensory thought:** While the smell of bread is a sensory input, the question focuses on the *representation* River creates in their mind, not the initial sensory experience itself. Sensory thought isn't a standard psychological term.<br />* **Episodic sensation:** This term combines "episodic memory" (memory of specific events) with "sensation" (sensory input). While the smell might trigger an episodic memory, the question specifically asks about the *representation* of their father baking, which is a mental image.<br />* **Heuristic:** A heuristic is a mental shortcut or "rule of thumb" used for problem-solving or decision-making. This doesn't apply to River's experience.<br />