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Cited by 211Memory Processes and InfluencesHallucinations in medical conditionsVisual perception and processing mechanisms

The neural correlates of visual imagery vividness – An fMRI study and literature review

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Fulford, Jon, Milton, Fraser, Salas, David, Smith, Alicia, Simler, Amber, Winlove, Crawford, Zeman, Adam·2018·Cortex
DOI 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.014
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Abstract

Using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire we selected 14 high-scoring and 15 low-scoring healthy participants from an initial sample of 111 undergraduates. The two groups were matched on measures of age, IQ, memory and mood but differed significantly in imagery vividness. We used fMRI to examine brain activation while participants looked at, or later imagined, famous faces and famous buildings. Group comparison revealed that the low-vividness group activated a more widespread set of brain regions while visualising than the high-vividness group. Parametric analysis of brain activation in relation to imagery vividness across the entire group of participants revealed distinct patterns of positive and negative correlation. In particular, several posterior cortical regions show a positive correlation with imagery vividness: regions of the fusiform gyrus, posterior cingulate and parahippocampal gyri (BAs 19, 29, 31 and 36) displayed exclusively positive correlations. By contrast several frontal regions including parts of anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24) and inferior frontal gyrus (BAs 44 and 47), as well as the insula (BA 13), auditory cortex (BA 41) and early visual cortices (BAs 17 and 18) displayed exclusively negative correlations. We discuss these results in relation to a previous, functional imaging study of a clinical case of 'blind imagination', and to the existing literature on the functional imaging correlates of imagery vividness and related phenomena in visual and other domains.

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  • The degree of resemblance between brain activation during imagery and perception probably contributes to the experienced vividness.

    “The degree of resemblance between brain activation during imagery and perception probably contributes to the experienced vividness”

    From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [19]

    Section 4.4 reports that activation in visual association cortices correlates with imagery vividness and discusses similarities and differences between imagery and perception. It does not establish that the degree of resemblance between their activation patterns contributes to vividness. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.79)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Studies specifically examining the neural correlates of imagery vividness have implicated modal and supramodal regions including higher-order visual cortices and parts of the default mode network.

    “Studies specifically examining the neural correlates of imagery vividness have implicated modal and supramodal regions including higher-order visual cortices and parts of the default mode network”

    From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [19]

  • The volume of prefrontal cortex correlated directly with imagery vividness.

    “The volume of prefrontal cortex correlated directly with imagery vividness”

    From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [19]

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Research works printed but not linked: 22

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Authors
Fulford, J., Milton, F., Salas, D., Smith, A., Simler, A., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A.
Affiliations
University of Exeter (GB)
Corresponding author
Zeman, Adam
ORCID
Venue
Cortex
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-08
Volume
105
Pages
26-40
ISSN
0010-9452 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.014
OpenAlex
W2764091523
Cited by
211
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 7
FWCI
1.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cortex (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/M002756/1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hallucinations in medical conditions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
visual imagery vividness, Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, famous faces, famous buildings, fusiform gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, insula, auditory cortex, early visual cortex
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Humans, Imagination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Imagery, Psychotherapy

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