I'm not sure if the word "replica" as I've always thought of the mental image as a "representation". The word replica suggests a hard copy - as in a replica of a painting. But that is a moot point - language itself can be very confusing.

    It is remarkable that the mind has developed the ability to represent space. It would be interesting to be able to see inside the mind of a new born baby. How it sees at that moment would tell us whether we learn to see - much as we learn to walk - or whether we "arrive" with the ability to perceive the world as it is. I've always assumed the latter. Bert