The purpose of these experiments was to study the contribution of ocul
omotor processes to visual image construction and generation. In a fir
st experiment, subjects scanned a square shape, then drew it with clos
ed eyes. The results showed that both ocular and manual responses star
ted from the same angle and moved into the same direction. When drawin
g, subjects mentally pictured a complete square. In, a second experime
nt, an irregular shape replaced the square. The results showed that re
peated scanning of the outlines allowed an incidental learning of the
shape and that subjects memorized their ocular movements rather than t
he figure. When drawing, subjects serially imaged parts of the shape.
To interpret the data, hypotheses concerning common processes underlyi
ng both motor intention of ocular movements and visual image generatio
n are suggested.