Vividness as the similarity between generated imagery and an internal model

Abstract

This research explores the concept of vividness in visual mental imagery (VMI) and its relation to an internal model. While the representational format and neural mechanisms of VMI have been extensively studied, the role of vividness has received comparatively less attention. The paper reframes vividness as the proximity of generated imagery to an internal model and considers its implications in understanding the role of the visual cortex in VMI. Although existing research suggests that early visual areas encode low-level visual features, correlational and causal evidence also indicates that their involvement in VMI may not be explicit. The conflicting results could be reconciled by a deeper investigation of vividness. The study proposes using self-reports, such as the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, to measure vividness in VMI. The study may have implications for understanding aphantasia, a lack of mental imagery experiences.

Authors

• Sean N. Riley1
• Jim Davies1

Vividness as the similarity between generated imagery and an internal model

Abstract

This research explores the concept of vividness in visual mental imagery (VMI) and its relation to an internal model. While the representational format and neural mechanisms of VMI have been extensively studied, the role of vividness has received comparatively less attention. The paper reframes vividness as the proximity of generated imagery to an internal model and considers its implications in understanding the role of the visual cortex in VMI. Although existing research suggests that early visual areas encode low-level visual features, correlational and causal evidence also indicates that their involvement in VMI may not be explicit. The conflicting results could be reconciled by a deeper investigation of vividness. The study proposes using self-reports, such as the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, to measure vividness in VMI. The study may have implications for understanding aphantasia, a lack of mental imagery experiences.

Authors

• Sean N. Riley1
• Jim Davies1