Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Back to all research
Ask AI About This Paper

Age differences in visual and multisensory imagery: Notes on distributions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia in individuals aged 20s–70s

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109433
Takahashi, J., Omura, K., & Sugimura, S. (2026). Age differences in visual and multisensory imagery: notes on distributions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia in individuals aged 20s–70s. Neuropsychologia, 226, 109433. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109433

Abstract

This study aimed to examine age-related differences in the vividness of visual and multisensory imagery in relation to the distribution of aphantasia and hyperphantasia. Individuals aged 20–79 (2558 Japanese people) completed the vividness of visual imagery questionnaire (VVIQ) and the questionnaire upon mental imagery (QMI) in an online setting. We compared these scores between age groups and calculated the prevalence ratios of aphantasia (VVIQ 16–23) and hyperphantasia (VVIQ 75–80) in each age group. The results showed that older adults (especially those in their 60s and 70s) had significantly higher VVIQ and QMI scores than did younger adults. Focusing on multisensory imagery, we extracted subtypes of aphantasia, such as visual and multisensory aphatansia, in terms of multisensory imagery in most age groups. Moreover, we calculated the prevalence of aphantasia and hyperphantasia in each age group and found that they were significantly more frequent among the 20s and 30s, and less frequent among the 60s and 70s in the aphantasia range, but not in the hyperphantasia range. This study shows that age differences should be considered in the vividness of visual and multisensory imagery related to the distribution of aphantasia.

Authors

  • Junichi Takahashi3
  • Kazufumi Omura3
  • Shinichiro Sugimura3

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to find out if our ability to "see" or "sense" things in our minds changes as we get older. They looked at how common aphantasia (having a "blind" mind’s eye) and hyperphantasia (having an incredibly vivid mind’s eye) are across different age groups.

How They Studied It

The team surveyed 2,558 Japanese people ranging from their 20s to their 70s. Participants completed two main questionnaires:
  • VVIQ: This measures visual imagery—the ability to picture things in your mind, like a sunset or a friend’s face.
  • QMI: This measures multisensory imagery—the ability to "hear" a song, "smell" a rose, or "feel" a touch in your mind.
By comparing the scores of younger and older participants, the researchers could see if the "vividness" of these mental experiences shifts over a lifetime.

What They Found

The results were surprising! Usually, we think of our senses getting duller as we age, but the study found the opposite for the mind's eye:
  • Older is Bolder: People in their 60s and 70s reported significantly more vivid mental pictures and senses than people in their 20s.
  • Aphantasia is More Common in Youth: About 4% of people in their 30s had aphantasia, while less than 1% of people in their 60s did.
  • Beyond Sight: The study confirmed that aphantasia isn't just about "seeing." Many participants also had trouble imagining sounds, smells, or physical feelings.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that our mental imagery might actually improve as we get older, perhaps because we have a lifetime of memories to draw from. However, we have to be careful with the results. This was a "snapshot" study, meaning they looked at different people at one time rather than following the same people for 50 years.
It’s also possible that older people simply *rate* their imagery more highly or remember things more positively. Think of it like a filter on a photo—we don't know yet if the "camera" in the brain is actually better or if older adults are just using a brighter filter when they describe their thoughts.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found that aphantasia comes in "flavors." Some people only have a blind mind’s eye (visual aphantasia), while others have "multisensory aphantasia," where they can't imagine the "sound of escaping steam" or the "taste of an orange" either!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.