Congenital lack and extraordinary ability in object and spatial imagery: An investigation on sub-types of aphantasia and hyperphantasia
Open accessAbstract
Studies that have shown a distinction between object and spatial imagery suggest more than one type of aphantasia and hyperphantasia, yet this has not been systematically investigated in studies on imagery ability extremes. Also, if the involuntary imagery is preserved in aphantasia and how this condition affects other skills is not fully clear. We collected data on spatial and object imagery, retrospective, and prospective memory, face recognition, and sense of direction (SOD), suggesting a distinction between two subtypes of aphantasia/hyperphantasia. Spatial aphantasia is associated with difficulties in visuo-spatial mental imagery and SOD. Instead, in object aphantasia there are difficulties in imaging single items and events - with no mental visualization of objects, out-of-focus, and black-and-white mental images more frequent than expected - in SOD and face recognition. Furthermore, associative involuntary imagery can be spared in aphantasia. The opposite pattern of performance was found in spatial and object hyperphantasia.
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Around 1% of the population experiences profound aphantasia, with the lowest possible VVIQ score (16/80).
“These studies suggest that ~1% of the population experiences profound aphantasia and have the lowest possible VVIQ score (16/80)”
From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [35]
The Discussion (p. 28) reports a cited estimate that aphantasia occurs in around 1% of the population. It does not say that this estimate is for profound aphantasia or that those individuals have the lowest possible VVIQ score of 16/80. The paper’s Limits section (p. 29) also says the study did not include the VVIQ in its test battery. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured2-6% of the population experiences imagery that is at best 'vague and dim', with VVIQ scores of 32/80 or less.
“whereas 2–6% experience imagery that is at best 'vague and dim', and have VVIQ scores of 32/80 or less”
From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [35]
The Discussion (p. 28) reports about 3% object aphantasia and 3.5% spatial aphantasia in the study sample, and cites a 3.9% population estimate using the VVIQ. Those figures fall within 2–6%, but the paper does not establish the quoted population range or define it by imagery that is ‘vague and dim’ and VVIQ scores of 32/80 or less. It also cautions that its sample may not represent population prevalence. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSubsequent reports have borne out that people with aphantasia dream visually.
“This observation has been borne out by subsequent reports [3”
From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [35]
Distinct varieties of 'object' and 'spatial' aphantasia occur with similar frequencies - 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively.
“A study of participants recruited from the general community revealed distinct varieties of 'object' and 'spatial' aphantasia occurring with similar frequencies – 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively [35”
From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [35]
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Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes
Zeman, A. (2024) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2024.02.007 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Palermo, L., Boccia, M., Piccardi, L., & Nori, R.
- Affiliations
- Magna Graecia University (IT)
- Fondazione Santa Lucia (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Palermo, Liana
- Venue
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-08
- Volume
- 103
- Pages
- 103360
- ISSN
- 1053-8100 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4281950909
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 2.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Consciousness and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- aphantasia, hyperphantasia, mental imagery, object imagery, spatial imagery, sense of direction, face recognition (cognition), prospective memory, mental visualization
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Imagination, Retrospective Studies, Memory, Episodic, Spatial Navigation
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