Live Science Talk with Researcher Wilma Bainbridge

Challenging Dual-Coding Theory: Picture Superiority is Preserved in Aphantasia

For decades, dual-coding theory has explained why we remember pictures better than words: we store visual information in two ways—as both an image and a verbal label. But what happens when someone can't create mental images at all? New research reveals that people with aphantasia still remember pictures better than words, fundamentally challenging our understanding of how memory actually works.

Join researcher Wilma Bainbridge as she discusses this new research, conducted in collaboration with Muhan Yan and Brady R.T. Roberts, that puts dual-coding theory to the test by examining memory in people with aphantasia—and discovers results that demand we rethink long-held assumptions about the relationship between mental imagery and memory.

What We'll Explore

During this talk, we'll discuss:

The picture superiority effect in aphantasia – Why people without mental imagery still remember pictures better than words, contradicting dual-coding theory's predictions

The unexpected symbol advantage – How aphantasic individuals showed even better recall for symbols compared to pictures, suggesting alternative cognitive strategies

Dual-coding theory challenged – What these findings mean for one of psychology's most established memory frameworks

Memory without imagery – How aphantasic individuals encode and retrieve visual information despite their inability to generate mental images

The concreteness effect puzzle – Whether concrete words are still remembered better than abstract words when mental imagery isn't available

Alternative memory mechanisms – What cognitive strategies might explain superior picture memory beyond dual-coding

Implications for learning and education – How understanding these mechanisms can inform teaching strategies for diverse learners

What to Expect

Science Talk: Wilma will discuss findings from the study comparing recall performance between aphantasic individuals and typical imagers across four stimulus types: pictures, symbols, concrete words, and abstract words. Learn how the research was designed, what patterns emerged, and why these results challenge fundamental assumptions about memory.

Live Q&A: This is your chance to ask Wilma directly about the research, what mechanisms might explain picture superiority without mental imagery, and what this means for our broader understanding of how memory works in aphantasia.

Duration: Approximately 1 hour (including Q&A)

Perfect For:

Individuals with aphantasia curious about how their memory actually functions despite lacking mental imagery

Researchers interested in memory, cognitive psychology, and theoretical frameworks that may need updating

Educators wondering how different cognitive styles affect learning and retention

Anyone who's questioned whether mental imagery is truly necessary for visual memory

Psychology students learning about dual-coding theory and wanting to understand its limitations

Community members interested in how aphantasia research is revealing new insights about human cognition

About Wilma Bainbridge

Wilma Bainbridge is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research explores visual memory, mental imagery, and individual differences in cognition. Her work, conducted in collaboration with researchers Muhan Yan and Brady R.T. Roberts, challenges established theories in cognitive psychology and reveals how diverse minds process and remember information in fundamentally different ways.

Ready to question what we thought we knew about memory?

Live Session: Members can join the live talk and participate in the Q&A in real-time

Recording: A recording of the talk will be posted to YouTube and available free to everyone after the event