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Aphantasia does not affect veridical and false memory: Evidence from the DRM paradigm

DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2025.103888
Pauly-Takacs, K., Younus, S., Sigala, N., & Pfeifer, G. (2025). Aphantasia does not affect veridical and false memory: evidence from the drm paradigm. Consciousness and Cognition, 133, 103888. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2025.103888

Abstract

Aphantasia is defined as the reduced capacity to form mental images voluntarily. Previous research provided mixed evidence regarding the effect this individual variation may have on other areas of cognition and different aspects of memory. This study investigated how a reduction in mental imagery affects verbal memory with a specific focus on false memory generation by comparing the performance of aphantasic and non-aphantasic control participants in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm. Correlational analyses revealed that higher visual imagery ability was weakly associated with better free recall performance but also more extra-list recall intrusions. However, contrary to expectations, the experimental findings demonstrated no differential effect of aphantasia on veridical or false memory in either free recall or recognition suggesting that aphantasia does not protect against verbal false memory generation. Future work should consider the effect of aphantasia on false memory generation using visual variants of the DRM task.

Authors

  • Kata Pauly-Takacs1
  • Saeed Younus1
  • Natasha Sigala1
  • Gaby Pfeifer1

Understanding Aphantasia and Memory: A Study on Mental Imagery and False Memory

Overview/Introduction

Aphantasia is a condition where individuals have a reduced ability to form mental images voluntarily. This study explores how aphantasia affects verbal memory, particularly focusing on the creation of false memories. Researchers compared individuals with aphantasia to those without, using a well-known memory test called the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. This research aims to clarify whether aphantasia influences the likelihood of generating false memories.

Methodology

  • Participants: The study involved two groups: individuals with aphantasia and a control group without the condition. Participants were recruited through online forums and social media.
  • Design: A mixed experimental design was used, with participants categorized based on their mental imagery ability, measured by the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ).
  • Procedure: Participants listened to lists of words and were asked to visualize them. They then recalled as many words as possible and completed a recognition test to identify previously heard words.
  • Analysis: Researchers analyzed the proportion of correctly recalled and recognized words, as well as false memories, comparing results between the two groups.

Key Findings

  • Recall and Recognition: Both groups recalled about 57% of studied words and falsely recalled 40% of critical words. Recognition rates were similar, with 84% of studied words correctly recognized and 79% of critical words falsely recognized.
  • Impact of Aphantasia: Contrary to expectations, aphantasia did not significantly affect the generation of false memories. Both aphantasic and non-aphantasic participants showed similar patterns in memory recall and recognition.
  • Correlation with VVIQ Scores: Higher visual imagery ability was weakly associated with better recall of studied words and more instances of false memories (extra-list intrusions).

Implications

  • Memory and Imagery: The study suggests that the ability to form mental images does not significantly protect against false memory creation in verbal tasks. This challenges the assumption that aphantasia might reduce susceptibility to false memories.
  • Future Research: Further studies could explore the effects of aphantasia on memory using visual tasks, which might reveal different patterns.

Limitations

  • Scope of Study: The study focused solely on verbal memory tasks. The impact of aphantasia on visual memory tasks remains unexplored.
  • Sample Size and Diversity: The study's findings are based on a specific sample, and broader research could provide more comprehensive insights.
In conclusion, this research contributes to understanding how mental imagery influences memory, particularly in individuals with aphantasia. While aphantasia does not seem to affect false memory generation in verbal tasks, further exploration ...