Motor imagery abilities in individuals who experience aphantasia

Abstract

Motor imagery is the visual and kinaesthetic mental representation of human movement, and it can be effective in improving motor performance and (re)learning in clinical and sporting contexts. However, individuals who experience aphantasia and self-report absent visual imagery abilities, would, presumably, be unable to engage with motor imagery and gain no benefits from imagery-based interventions. The aim of this study was to explore any self-reported motor imagery-related abilities in participants who experience aphantasia. One-hundred and ninety-four participants who self-reported experiencing a total absence of voluntary visual imagery completed motor simulation ability questionnaires to assess their visual motor imagery, kinaesthetic motor imagery, and combined action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) abilities. The findings indicate that aphantasic participants are unable to engage with visual motor imagery. However, participants reported significantly greater kinaesthetic imagery and AOMI abilities, with medium-to-large effect sizes, when compared to visual motor imagery ability. Although generating kinaesthetic imagery and AOMI was still difficult, the findings suggest that these motor simulation abilities may be somewhat less compromised compared to the complete absence of visual imagery for participants who experience aphantasia. The results also offer novel evidence that immediate prior action execution may have the potential to prime the generation of kinaesthetic imagery in those who experience aphantasia.