MindEye: A VR Imagery Training System for Individuals with Acquired Visual Imagery Impairments and Mild Aphantasia

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Acquired Aphantasia Hypophantasia Measurement & Assessment

Wang, T., He, C., Song, R., Zhang, J., Xu, Y., Zhang, P., Guo, M., Li, G., & Deng, Z. (2025). Mindeye: a vr imagery training system for individuals with acquired visual imagery impairments and mild aphantasia. Proceedings of the SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 Posters, 1–3. doi:10.1145/3757374.3771463

Abstract

Visual imagery deficits, including aphantasia and acquired imagery impairments, significantly impact cognitive functioning yet lack effective interventions. We present MindEye, a VR-based training system combining guided imagery reconstruction with spatial-semantic association techniques to rebuild visual imagery pathways. The system features two modules that provide structured verbal cues and progressive visual scaffolding, and that preserve spatial cognition to strengthen imagery-memory connections. Our study with 6 participants demonstrated significant improvements across all measures: imagery clarity increased from 2.3 to 3.7, scene reconstruction from 52% to 76%, and spatial recall from 58% to 85%, with participants having initially low imaging ability showing the largest gains. These results suggest that combining guided imagery training with spatial-semantic association offers a promising therapeutic approach for individuals with imagery deficits.

Authors

Tian Wang1
Chenyang He2
Ruici Song1
Jinghan Zhang1
Yijing Xu1
Pei Zhang1
Mengyao Guo1
Guanyou Li1
Zhiwei Deng1

What This Study Is About

Researchers tested whether a Virtual Reality (VR) system called "MindEye" could help people with aphantasia—the inability to visualize images in the mind—improve their mental imagery and memory. The study explored if immersive technology could "reactivate" the brain's ability to create mental pictures by combining visual cues with spatial navigation.

How They Studied It

The study involved 6 participants, including individuals with PTSD, people who reported imagery impairments, and healthy controls. They used a VR headset to complete two training modules:

Guided Imagery: Participants observed a VR scene while listening to descriptions, then tried to mentally reconstruct the scene as the visual details were slowly removed.

Spatial-Object Path: Participants placed objects in a virtual room, then had to recall exactly where those objects were after they were hidden.

The researchers measured how clearly participants could "see" images and how accurately they remembered the layout of the virtual scenes.

What They Found

After three training sessions, participants showed significant improvements in their visualization abilities. Self-reported imagery clarity increased from a low score of 2.3 to a higher 3.7 (on a 5-point scale). Additionally, their ability to accurately reconstruct scenes jumped from 52% to 76%, and their memory for where objects were located improved from 58% to 85%. Those who started with the weakest imagery skills saw the most significant gains.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that VR could be a promising tool for "training" the brain to visualize, especially for those with mild aphantasia or imagery loss due to trauma. By using spatial memory (knowing where things are) to support visual memory (knowing what things look like), the system may help rebuild mental pathways. However, because the study only included 6 people, more research with larger groups is needed to prove these effects last over time.

One Interesting Detail

The system used "scaffolding," where it would show a full picture and then slowly fade it out while a voice continued to describe it, forcing the participant's brain to take over and "fill in" the image mentally.

MindEye: A VR Imagery Training System for Individuals with Acquired Visual Imagery Impairments and Mild Aphantasia

Abstract

Authors

MindEye: A VR Imagery Training System for Individuals with Acquired Visual Imagery Impairments and Mild Aphantasia

Abstract

Authors

MindEye: A VR Imagery Training System for Individuals with Acquired Visual Imagery Impairments and Mild Aphantasia

Abstract

Authors

MindEye: A VR Imagery Training System for Individuals with Acquired Visual Imagery Impairments and Mild Aphantasia

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

Adam Zeman

Rebecca Keogh

Martin Reuter

Juha Silvanto

Paolo Bartolomeo

Carla Dance

Jianghao Liu

Fraser Milton