The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population

Abstract

This study investigated the ability of people to create visual images in their mind's eye, known as visual mental imagery. Some people have a rare condition called aphantasia, where they are unable to create these mental images or their visual imagery ability is markedly impaired. The study aimed to determine how common aphantasia is in the general population. The researchers screened two groups of people, one of undergraduate students and another recruited online, and found that approximately 4% of people had aphantasia. The study's findings suggest that aphantasia is a relatively rare condition, affecting less than 4% of the population, and is not biased towards any gender.

What This Study Is About

This study aims to determine how common aphantasia is in the general population. Aphantasia is a condition where people cannot create mental images, meaning they lack a "mind's eye."

How They Studied It

Researchers conducted two separate experiments to ensure their results were reliable. In the first experiment, they screened 502 undergraduate students. In the second, they screened 502 people from an online crowdsourcing marketplace to get a broader sample of the general public. Participants completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), which asks people to rate the brightness and clarity of images they try to conjure in their minds.

What They Found

The study found that aphantasia is more common than some previous estimates suggested. Across both groups, approximately 3.9% of people had aphantasia (defined as having imagery that is either completely absent or very dim and vague). When looking only at the most extreme cases—people who reported a total absence of any mental images—the number was about 0.8%. The researchers also found that men and women are affected equally.

What This Might Mean

These results suggest that nearly 4 out of every 100 people may experience aphantasia. By using two different types of groups, the researchers tried to avoid "recruitment bias," which happens when people participate in a study specifically because they already know they have the condition. While these findings provide a helpful benchmark, the exact percentage can still vary depending on the specific "cutoff" score researchers use to define the condition.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers noted that people with aphantasia often perform just as well as others on memory tests, but they use different mental strategies—relying on facts and spatial awareness rather than "seeing" a picture in their head.

The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population

Abstract

Authors

The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population

Abstract

Authors

The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population

Abstract

Authors

The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population

Abstract

Authors

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

Joel Pearson

Merlin Monzel

Adam Zeman

Rebecca Keogh

Martin Reuter

Juha Silvanto

Paolo Bartolomeo

Carla Dance

Jianghao Liu

Fraser Milton