AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated
Aphantasia, the inability to visualize, shows a weak link to autistic traits, mainly due to the Imagination subscale of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Many autistic individuals are strong visual thinkers, suggesting the connection is not robust and varies among individuals.
Bouyer, L. N., Pellicano, E., Saurels, B. W., Schwarzkopf, D. S., & Arnold, D. H. (2025). The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated. Consciousness and Cognition, 129, 103821. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2025.103821
Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences
Imagery can prime sensitivity to visual inputs, but this effect doesn't predict how vividly people visualize. While some individuals see images in their mind as clearly as reality, others can't visualize at all. Current methods, like the binocular rivalry protocol, don't reliably measure these differences. More research is needed to find an obje...
Bouyer, L. N., Schwarzkopf, D. S., Saurels, B. W., & Arnold, D. H. (2025). Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences. Cognition, 256, 106048. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2024.106048
Don't think of a pink elephant: Individual differences in visualisation predict involuntary imagery and its neural correlates
People with vivid imaginations are more prone to unwanted mental images, while those with aphantasia, who have weaker visual imagery, can better control such thoughts. Brain scans show that this isn't just a shift to other senses, but a genuine ability to prevent intrusive images, suggesting aphantasia may offer advantages in mental control.
Arnold, D. H., Hutchinson, M., Bouyer, L. N., Schwarzkopf, D. S., Pellicano, E., & Saurels, B. W. (2025). Don't think of a pink elephant: individual differences in visualisation predict involuntary imagery and its neural correlates. Cortex, 183, 53–65. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2024.10.020
What is the true range of mental imagery?
Mental imagery varies widely among individuals, with some experiencing images as vivid projections and others as internal associations. Current methods to measure this are inadequate, highlighting the need for better tools to understand mental imagery, which could aid in addressing mental health issues.
Schwarzkopf, D. S. (2024). What is the true range of mental imagery?. Cortex, 170, 21–25. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2023.09.013
Visual working memory performance in aphantasia
Aphantasia, the inability to form mental images, may not always affect cognitive tasks. An aphantasic individual performed similarly to others in tasks involving mental imagery but struggled with high-precision visual memory tasks. This suggests mental imagery aids in precise visual memory, though alternative strategies can sometimes compensate.
Jacobs, C., Schwarzkopf, D. S., & Silvanto, J. (2018). Visual working memory performance in aphantasia. Cortex, 105, 61–73. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2017.10.014
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