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

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.