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No increased prevalence of prosopagnosia in aphantasia: Visual recognition deficits are small and not restricted to faces

DOI: 10.1177/03010066231180712
Monzel, M., Vetterlein, A., Hogeterp, S. A., & Reuter, M. (2023). No increased prevalence of prosopagnosia in aphantasia: visual recognition deficits are small and not restricted to faces. Perception, 52(9), 629–644. doi:10.1177/03010066231180712

Abstract

Aphantasia and prosopagnosia are both rare conditions with impairments in visual cognition. While prosopagnosia refers to a face recognition deficit, aphantasics exhibit a lack of mental imagery. Current object recognition theories propose an interplay of perception and mental representations, making an association between recognition performance and visual imagery plausible. While the literature assumes a link between aphantasia and prosopagnosia, other impairments in aphantasia have been shown to be rather global. Therefore, we assumed that aphantasics do not solely exhibit impairments in face recognition but rather in general visual recognition performance, probably moderated by stimulus complexity. To test this hypothesis, 65 aphantasics were compared to 55 controls in a face recognition task, the Cambridge Face Memory Test, and a corresponding object recognition task, the Cambridge Car Memory Test. In both tasks, aphantasics performed worse than controls, indicating mild recognition deficits without face-specificity. Additional correlations between imagery vividness and performance in both tasks were found, suggesting that visual imagery influences visual recognition not only in imagery extremes. Stimulus complexity produced the expected moderation effect but only for the whole imagery-spectrum and only with face stimuli. Overall, the results imply that aphantasia is linked to a general but mild deficit in visual recognition.

Authors

  • Merlin Monzel24
  • Annabel Vetterlein4
  • Svea A. Hogeterp2
  • Martin Reuter15

Understanding Aphantasia and Visual Recognition

Overview/Introduction

Aphantasia and prosopagnosia are two rare conditions that affect visual cognition. Aphantasia is characterized by a lack of mental imagery, while prosopagnosia involves difficulty recognizing faces. This study explores whether individuals with aphantasia also experience general visual recognition difficulties, not limited to face recognition, as previously assumed.

Methodology

The researchers conducted a study involving:
  • 65 participants with aphantasia and 55 control participants without the condition.
  • Two tests were used: the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT) for face recognition and the Cambridge Car Memory Test (CCMT) for object recognition.
  • Participants' performance in these tasks was measured and compared to assess recognition abilities.

Key Findings

  • Individuals with aphantasia performed worse than controls in both the CFMT and CCMT, indicating a mild general recognition deficit rather than a face-specific issue.
  • There was a correlation between the vividness of visual imagery and performance in both tasks. This suggests that visual imagery plays a role in visual recognition across different levels of imagery vividness.
  • The complexity of stimuli affected recognition performance, but this effect was only significant for face stimuli across the entire spectrum of imagery vividness.

Implications

  • The study challenges the assumption that aphantasia is closely linked with prosopagnosia. Instead, it suggests a broader, mild impairment in visual recognition.
  • Understanding the role of mental imagery in recognition tasks can help develop strategies to support individuals with aphantasia in daily activities that require visual recognition.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering stimulus complexity in designing interventions or tools for people with visual recognition challenges.

Limitations

  • The study's limitations include the range of item difficulty in the tests, which may not fully capture the nuances of recognition abilities across different types of stimuli.
  • Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of visual recognition deficits in aphantasia and their practical implications.
In conclusion, while aphantasia is associated with a general visual recognition deficit, it is not specifically linked to face recognition issues as seen in prosopagnosia. This insight broadens our understanding of how mental imagery influences visual cognition and recognition.