State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109399

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Abstract

Vivid mental imagery is often assumed to relate to memory accuracy, but recent empirical findings from studies of mental imagery and aphantasia have found conflicting results regarding this association. Recent literature has found the modality of stimulus may influence this association, and that vividness and confidence of memories may change over the lifespan. Therefore, the present study investigates the relationship between mental imagery vividness and memory for scenes, with a focus on modality-specific and age-related effects, and relationships with confidence. Using a novel experimental procedure, young and older participants memorised objects within scenes and later identified whether specific changes had occurred. Results indicated that while trait-level and averaged measures of vividness did not predict memory accuracy, trial-by-trial state measures were significantly related to subsequent performance. Additionally, results provided evidence that mental imagery may relate to visual aspects of memory more than spatial aspects. Older adults reported higher vividness ratings but performed worse on average than young adults. Confidence and vividness were highly correlated but remained distinct subjective experiences. Re-analysis of an existing related dataset involving people with aphantasia confirmed state-level findings regarding vividness and memory accuracy, highlighting limitations of previous research relying on averaged and trait-level measures. Results identify the need for future research to analyse vividness on a trial-by-trial basis to appropriately investigate the relationship between mental imagery vividness and memory accuracy.

Authors

William Duckett1
Jon S. Simons2

What This Study Is About

Researchers investigated whether the "vividness" of a mental image—the ability to picture something in the mind—actually helps a person remember details more accurately. They specifically looked at whether a person's general imagery ability (trait) or the clarity of a specific memory in the moment (state) is a better predictor of memory performance.

How They Studied It

The study involved 100 participants, including both younger and older adults. Participants were shown various scenes containing specific objects and were later asked to recall them. For each memory, they rated the vividness of their mental image on a scale from 1 ("No image whatsoever") to 7 ("Perfectly vivid"). The researchers also used a standard questionnaire (the VVIQ) to measure each person's general imagery level. To ensure the findings applied to those with aphantasia (the inability to visualize), the authors also re-analyzed data from a previous study that specifically compared aphantasic individuals to those with typical imagery.

What They Found

The study found that a person’s general imagery score (their "trait") did not predict how well they performed on memory tests. However, the vividness of a specific mental image in the moment (the "state") was a significant predictor of accuracy. When participants reported a clearer mental image for a specific object, they were more likely to correctly identify if that object had been moved or changed color. Interestingly, while people with aphantasia generally perform well on memory tasks, the re-analysis showed that when they do experience a rare moment of imagery, it also correlates with better memory accuracy, just like in typical imagers.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that while having a "blind mind" doesn't necessarily make someone's memory worse overall, the presence of a vivid mental image can act as a helpful tool for boosting accuracy in the moment. It highlights that researchers should focus on trial-by-trial experiences rather than just general labels. One limitation is that "vividness" is subjective; what one person calls a "3" might be another person's "5," making it difficult to compare across different people.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found that mental imagery was much more helpful for remembering "visual" details (like color) than "spatial" details (like where an object was located in a room), suggesting that the mind uses different systems for "what" and "where."

State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy

Abstract

Authors

State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy

Abstract

Authors

State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy

Abstract

Authors

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy

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

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

Joel Pearson

Merlin Monzel

Adam Zeman

Rebecca Keogh

Martin Reuter

Juha Silvanto

Paolo Bartolomeo

Carla Dance

Jianghao Liu

Fraser Milton