Final answer:
The ability for people to mentally rotate images, zoom in or out, and identify features is backed by cognitive and perceptual psychology, relating to how the brain interprets and processes sights captured by the eyes into a dynamic and interactive sense of vision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that people can manipulate visual mental images in their minds, by rotating them, zooming in or out, and recognizing their features, is rooted in our understanding of cognitive and perceptual psychology. The human visual system not only detects light and forms images on the retina, but the brain also constructs a mental representation of what is seen. This process shows our ability to perceive in three dimensions and interpret various aspects of our environment, contributing to navigation and interaction within that space.
The visual system and its ability to construct mental images are essential for survival, allowing individuals to process and respond to their surroundings. For example, even when looking at a static object such as a checkerboard, the brain makes complex inferences rather than just taking a passive 'mental picture.' This ability can be seen in how we interpret optical illusions or how someone's perspective, experience, and cultural background can influence the interpretation of an image, as described by the different observers analyzing the person in the room from various viewpoints.
Overall, our vision is a dynamic and interactive sense, which involves active processing by the brain to form coherent perceptions. This is demonstrated by examples such as the stereograms wherein a two-dimensional image can reveal a three-dimensional figure to the brain, or in the way that our dual-eye setup allows for depth perception.