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On the characteristics of aphantasia, hyperphantasia and sensory imagery in a multi-cultural sample

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3902941/v1
Bruder, J., & Zehra, M. (n.d.). On the characteristics of aphantasia, hyperphantasia and sensory imagery in a multi-cultural sample. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3902941/v1

Abstract

Sensory imagery, such as visual imagery, is assumed to be a universal cognitive ability, yet a current research gap is a lack of cultural diversity in the existing literature. Further, research has primarily focused on visual imagery, as opposed to other sensory imagery. Visual imagery presents with a large degree of individual variability and includes two extreme forms, aphantasia and hyperphantasia. This study investigated sensory imagery in a multi-cultural sample. Participants (N = 636) completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) scale and the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q). Altogether 5.0% of participants fell within the aphantasia range (VVIQ: 16–32) and 12.1% within the hyperphantasia range (VVIQ: 75–80). Across the sample, no VVIQ differences were found for gender, age, occupation, or education. VVIQ scores positively correlated with all imagery scales in the Psi-Q, suggesting imagery across senses is not independent. To explore cultural differences, participants were divided into five cultural groups: 1) Western Educated Industrialized Rich & Democratic (WEIRD) (n = 89); 2) South-East Asia (SEA, n = 121); 3) South Asia (n = 180); 4) Middle East and North Africa (MENA, n = 86), and 5) Arabian Gulf (Arab, n = 43). WEIRD and SEA participants reported significantly higher levels of visual imagery in the VVIQ than those from MENA. Within the Psi-Q sensory subscales, SEA and WEIRD participants reported significantly higher imagery than MENA and Arabian Gulf participants. In conclusion, this study contributes to previous prevalence reports for aphantasia and hyperphantasia in a novel sample and demonstrates the need to consider culture when investigating imagery across all senses.

Authors

  • Jennifer Bruder2
  • Masooma Zehra2

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to know if where you grow up or your cultural background affects how you "see" things in your mind. They looked at how common aphantasia (having a "blind" mind's eye) and hyperphantasia (having a "HD" mind's eye) are in people from all over the world.

How They Studied It

The team surveyed 636 people living in Qatar. Because Qatar is a global hub, the researchers could compare five different cultural groups, including people from Western countries, South Asia, and the Middle East. Participants took online tests to rate their mental imagery—the ability to create pictures, sounds, or smells in your head.

What They Found

The study found that about 5% of people had aphantasia, while 12% had hyperphantasia. But here’s the twist: culture seemed to matter! People from Western and Southeast Asian backgrounds reported much more vivid mental pictures than people from the Middle East or North Africa.
They also found that imagery is a "package deal." If you are great at picturing a sunset, you are likely also great at "hearing" a favorite song or "feeling" a soft fabric in your mind.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that our "mind's eye" isn't just something we are born with; it might be shaped by our environment, the games we play as kids, or even the landscapes we see every day. For example, growing up in a vast, uniform desert might lead to different imagery skills than growing up in a crowded, colorful city.
However, we have to be careful: the study was only done in English and had many more women than men, which might have tilted the results. It shows a fascinating link, but it doesn't prove that culture is the only cause.

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found that older participants were significantly better at "smelling" and "tasting" things in their minds than younger people. It turns out that having a lifetime of "lived experiences"—like decades of home-cooked meals—might give your brain more data to craft a vivid mental snack!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.