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

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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 investigated how the ability to "picture" things in the mind changes as we get older. They specifically looked at the prevalence of aphantasia (the inability to visualize) and hyperphantasia (extremely vivid mental imagery) across different age groups, from people in their 20s to those in their 70s.

How They Studied It

The study surveyed 2,558 Japanese participants across six age decades. Participants completed two main assessments:

VVIQ (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire): A standard test where people rate how clearly they can see mental images.

QMI (Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery): A test that measures imagery across other senses, such as hearing (auditory), touch (cutaneous), and smell (olfactory).

The researchers then compared the scores to see if older people reported more or less vivid imagery than younger people.

What They Found

The study discovered that older adults (those in their 60s and 70s) actually reported significantly more vivid mental imagery than younger adults in their 20s and 30s.

Aphantasia: This was more common in younger groups. About 3.6% of people in their 20s met the criteria for aphantasia, compared to only about 0.8% of people in their 70s.

Hyperphantasia: This was more common in older groups. About 3% of people in their 70s reported extreme imagery, compared to 2.4% of those in their 20s.

Multisensory Imagery: The trend wasn't just for "seeing" in the mind; older adults also reported more vivid mental sounds, smells, and touches.

What This Might Mean

These findings suggest that mental imagery might not decline with age like some other cognitive skills (such as memory speed). Instead, it might become more vivid as we get older. However, the researchers note a few possibilities: older people might be better at focusing on their internal thoughts, or they might simply be more "generous" when rating their own experiences compared to younger people. Because this was a one-time survey, it doesn't prove that an individual's imagery improves over time, only that today's older generation reports higher vividness than today's younger generation.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found that aphantasia isn't always "total." They identified a "multisensory" subtype where people couldn't visualize or imagine sounds and smells, but they also found "visual-only" aphantasics who could still "hear" a song or "smell" a rose clearly in their minds.

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

Abstract

Authors

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

Abstract

Authors

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

Abstract

Authors

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

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

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