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Cited by 168Spatial Cognition and NavigationVisual perception and processing mechanismsHallucinations in medical conditions

Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery

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Pounder, Zoë, Jacob, Jane, Evans, Samuel, Loveday, Catherine, Eardley, Alison F., Silvanto, Juha·2022·Cortex
DOI 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.010
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Abstract

Aphantasia describes the experience of individuals who self-report a lack of voluntary visual imagery. It is not yet known whether individuals with aphantasia show deficits in cognitive and neuropsychological tasks thought to relate to aspects of visual imagery, including Spatial Span, One Touch Stocking of Cambridge, Pattern Recognition Memory, Verbal Recognition Memory and Mental Rotation. Twenty individuals with congenital aphantasia (VVIQ < 25) were identified and matched on measures of age and IQ to twenty individuals with typical imagery (VVIQ > 35). A group difference was found in the One Touch Stocking of Cambridge task for response time, but not accuracy, when the number of imagined moves that participants had to hold in their heads to complete the task increased. Similarly, a group difference in response time was apparent in the mental rotation task, but only in the subgroup of aphantasic participants who reported a severe deficit in visual imagery (VVIQ score of 16). These results suggest that the cognitive profile of people without imagery does not greatly differ from those with typical imagery when examined by group. In addition, the severity of aphantasia (and VVIQ criterion) may be an important factor to consider when investigating differences in imagery experience. Overall, this study raises questions about whether or not aphantasia represents a difference in cognitive function or in conscious experience.

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  • On standard experimental measures of memory, people with aphantasia perform normally or show at most mild to moderate impairment.

    “On a range of standard experimental measures of memory (short- and long-term, verbal and visual), people with aphantasia perform normally or show, at most, mild to moderate impairment”

    From Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes (2024) · cites this paper as [53]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Pounder, Z., Jacob, J., Evans, S., Loveday, C., Eardley, A. F., & Silvanto, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Westminster (GB)
  • Louisiana Tech University (US)
  • University of Surrey (GB)
Corresponding author
Pounder, Zoë
ORCID
Venue
Cortex
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-03
Volume
148
Pages
180-192
ISSN
0010-9452 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.010
OpenAlex
W4207078244
Cited by
168
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 9
FWCI
8.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cortex (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
European Research Council (336152)
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 › Hallucinations in medical conditions
Keywords
aphantasia, visual imagery, mental imagery, mental rotation, spatial span, pattern recognition memory, verbal recognition memory, cognitive profile, subjective experience, neuropsychological performance
MeSH terms
Cognition, Humans, Imagination, Memory, Visual Perception, Imagery, Psychotherapy

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