Research International Journal of Cognitive Therapy

Mental Imagery in the Science and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

BlackwellJanuary 2021

Abstract
What This Study Is About
How They Studied It
What They Found
What This Might Mean
One Interesting Detail
Authors
Cite this paper

Abstract

Mental imagery has a long history in the science and practice of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), stemming from both behavioural and cognitive traditions. The past decade or so has seen a marked increase in both scientific and clinical interest in mental imagery, from basic questions about the processes underpinning mental imagery and its roles in everyday healthy functioning, to clinical questions about how dysfunctions in mental imagery can cause distress and impairment, and how mental imagery can be used within CBT to effect therapeutic change. This article reflects on the current state of mental imagery in the science and practice of CBT, in the context of past developments and with a view to future challenges and opportunities. An ongoing interplay between the various strands of imagery research and the many clinical innovations in this area is recommended in order to realise the full therapeutic potential of mental imagery in CBT.

Our summary in plain words

What This Study Is About

Researchers investigated whether people with aphantasia—the inability to create mental images—experience lower levels of fear when reading scary stories compared to people with typical imagery. The study aimed to determine if the "mind's eye" acts as an emotional amplifier for the things we read and think about.

How They Studied It

The study involved 46 participants: 22 with aphantasia and 24 with typical visual imagery. Participants sat in a darkened room while reading a series of frightening scenarios on a screen, such as being chased by a shark or falling from a cliff. To measure their emotional response objectively, researchers used skin conductance sensors, which detect tiny amounts of sweat triggered by the "fight or flight" nervous system. As a control, participants also viewed actual frightening images to ensure their physical fear response worked normally when looking at real-world threats.

What They Found

The results showed a significant difference between the two groups. While reading the scary stories, people with typical imagery showed a steady increase in skin conductance, indicating rising fear levels. In contrast, the fear levels for those with aphantasia remained almost flat. However, when both groups were shown actual scary pictures, their skin conductance levels spiked similarly. This suggests that people with aphantasia have a normal emotional response to what they see, but they don't experience the same "internal" fear response when just reading or thinking about scary situations.

What This Might Mean

This study suggests that mental imagery—the ability to picture things in your mind—is a key bridge between our thoughts and our emotions. For most people, picturing a scary event makes it feel "real" to the body. For those with aphantasia, the lack of a mental picture may act as a buffer, preventing thoughts from triggering a strong physical emotional reaction. This could have implications for how people with aphantasia experience anxiety or process traumatic memories, though more research is needed to understand if this applies to positive emotions as well.

One Interesting Detail

While the aphantasic group didn't show a physical fear response to the stories, they still reported feeling "scared" in their written feedback. This highlights a fascinating gap between a person's conscious feeling of an emotion and their body's physical reaction to it.

This summary was written with AI and may contain errors. Check the original paper.

Authors

Simon E. Blackwell
1 paper in the library

Cite this paper

Blackwell, S. E. (2021). Mental imagery in the science and practice of cognitive behaviour therapy: past, present, and future perspectives. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 14(1), 160–181. doi:10.1007/s41811-021-00102-0

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Research International Journal of Cognitive Therapy

Mental Imagery in the Science and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

BlackwellJanuary 2021

Read the paper

Abstract
What This Study Is About
How They Studied It
What They Found
What This Might Mean
One Interesting Detail
Authors
Cite this paper

Abstract

Our summary in plain words

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

This summary was written with AI and may contain errors. Check the original paper.

Authors

Simon E. Blackwell
1 paper in the library

Cite this paper

Topics

Mental Health

Most-cited researchers

Recruit participants for your study

We can help you reach people across the imagery spectrum, from aphantasia to hyperphantasia.

Partner with us

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Image-Free Insights

A short note from our founder, Tom Ebeyer, every other week, plus occasional news and invitations to take part in studies. Change what you get from any email.