Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire

How vivid is your mind's eye?

The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) explores the vividness of your visual imagination. It was created in 1973 by British psychologist David Marks and is proven to be an accurate test of the vividness with which you can see people, objects, or settings in your mind’s eye.

VVIQ Instructions

For each scenario, try to form a mental picture of the people, objects, or setting. Rate how vivid the image is using the 5‑point scale. If you do not have a visual image, rate vividness as "1". Only use "5" for images that are as lively and vivid as real seeing. The rating scale is as follows:

No image at all, I only know I am thinking of the object
Vague and dim
Moderately clear and vivid
Clear and reasonably vivid
Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Imagine a relative or friend you see often

The exact contours of face, head, shoulders and body.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Characteristic poses of head, attitudes of body, etc.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

The precise carriage, length of step, etc., in walking.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

The different colors of some familiar clothes.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Visualize a rising sun

The sun rising above the horizon into a hazy sky.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

The sky clears and surrounds the sun with blueness.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Clouds: a storm blows up with flashes of lightning.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

A rainbow appears.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Imagine the front of a familiar shop

The overall appearance of the shop from the opposite side of the road.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

A window display including colours, shapes and details of individual items.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

You are near the entrance: the colour, shape and details of the door.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Inside at the counter: the assistant serves you and money changes hands.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

Visualize a country scene

The contours of the landscape (trees, mountains, lake).*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

The colour and shape of the trees.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

The colour and shape of the lake.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

A strong wind blows on the trees and lake, causing waves.*

No image at all, you only know that you are thinking of the object

Vague and dim

Moderately clear and vivid

Clear and reasonably vivid

Perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision

How vivid is your mind's eye?

VVIQ Instructions

Imagine a relative or friend you see often

Visualize a rising sun

Imagine the front of a familiar shop

Visualize a country scene

Contact Preferences

Optional: Help us better understand imagery differences