AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
Individual variability in mental imagery vividness does not predict perceptual interference with imagery: A replication study of Cui et al. (2007).
A study with 241 participants found no link between mental imagery vividness and perceptual interference, challenging a 2007 study's findings. However, those who can project mental images externally (prophantasia) showed improved perceptual performance, suggesting a need to rethink how mental imagery affects perception.
Azañón, E., Pounder, Z., Figueroa, A., & Reeder, R. R. (2025). Individual variability in mental imagery vividness does not predict perceptual interference with imagery: a replication study of cui et al. (2007).. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 154(7), 2043–2057. doi:10.1037/xge0001756
Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory
People with aphantasia, who lack visual mental imagery, can perform visual memory tasks as well as those with vivid imagery by using non-visual strategies like spatial and sensorimotor methods. This challenges the idea that visual memory tasks require visual strategies and suggests non-visual approaches are equally effective.
Reeder, R. R., Pounder, Z., Figueroa, A., Jüllig, A., & Azañón, E. (2024). Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory. Cognition, 251, 105907. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105907
No clear evidence of a difference between individuals who self-report an absence of auditory imagery and typical imagers on auditory imagery tasks
People with aphantasia, who can't form mental images, often report deficits in both visual and auditory imagery. However, this study found no significant performance differences in auditory tasks between those with aphantasia and typical imagers, suggesting a gap between self-reported imagery experiences and task performance.
Pounder, Z., Eardley, A. F., Loveday, C., & Evans, S. (2024). No clear evidence of a difference between individuals who self-report an absence of auditory imagery and typical imagers on auditory imagery tasks. PLOS ONE, 19(4), e0300219. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0300219
Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery
Individuals with aphantasia, who lack voluntary visual imagery, show differences in response time but not accuracy in certain cognitive tasks compared to those with typical imagery. The study suggests minimal cognitive differences as a group, questioning if aphantasia affects cognitive function or conscious experience.
Pounder, Z., Jacob, J., Evans, S., Loveday, C., Eardley, A. F., & Silvanto, J. (2022). Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery. Cortex, 148, 180–192. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.010
Quantifying aphantasia through drawing: Those without visual imagery show deficits in object but not spatial memory
Individuals with aphantasia, who can't form mental images, recall fewer objects with less detail but maintain high spatial accuracy and make fewer memory errors. This suggests separate memory systems for objects and spatial information, highlighting aphantasia as a distinct variation in human imagery experience.
Bainbridge, W. A., Pounder, Z., Eardley, A. F., & Baker, C. I. (2021). Quantifying aphantasia through drawing: those without visual imagery show deficits in object but not spatial memory. Cortex, 135, 159–172. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2020.11.014
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