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
The Impact of Aphantasia on Mental Healthcare Experiences
Approximately 4% of people have aphantasia, a condition where they lack mental imagery. This study reveals that aphantasia affects mental health diagnosis and treatment, as many therapies rely on imagery techniques. Aphants often find these therapies ineffective, highlighting the need for more tailored mental health care.
Mawtus, B., Renwick, F., Thomas, B. R., & Reeder, R. R. (2024). The impact of aphantasia on mental healthcare experiences. Collabra: Psychology, 10(1). doi:10.1525/collabra.127416
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
The Ganzflicker experience: High probability of seeing vivid and complex pseudo-hallucinations with imagery but not aphantasia
People with vivid mental imagery are more likely to experience complex and vivid pseudo-hallucinations during visual flicker stimulation compared to those with aphantasia, who have little to no mental imagery. This suggests a link between the ability to generate mental images and the likelihood of experiencing anomalous visual perceptions.
Königsmark, V. T., Bergmann, J., & Reeder, R. R. (2021). The ganzflicker experience: high probability of seeing vivid and complex pseudo-hallucinations with imagery but not aphantasia. Cortex, 141, 522–534. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.007
Anomalous visual experience is linked to perceptual uncertainty and visual imagery vividness
People with vivid mental imagery are more likely to perceive faces in random visual noise, a phenomenon known as pareidolia. This tendency is linked to perceptual uncertainty; when the environment is less ambiguous, the connection between vivid imagery and pareidolia weakens.
Salge, J. H., Pollmann, S., & Reeder, R. R. (2021). Anomalous visual experience is linked to perceptual uncertainty and visual imagery vividness. Psychological Research, 85(5), 1848–1865. doi:10.1007/s00426-020-01364-7
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