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Impact of aphantasia on identity and directive function of autobiographical memory

DOI: 10.3917/anpsy1.261.0055
Wantzen, P., & Witt, A. (2026). Impact of aphantasia on identity and directive function of autobiographical memory. L’Année psychologique, Vol. 126(1), 55–73. doi:10.3917/anpsy1.261.0055

Abstract

Autobiographical memory (AM) enables us to relive or imagine personal experiences. AM presents three main functions: identity (our experiences build our identity), directive (our experiences guide our behavior to adapt to future scenarios), and social (creating and maintaining social bonds). The recognition that individuals present a lack of mental imagery – aphantasia – opened up new scientific avenues to study how mental imagery contributes to AM. Earlier studies revealed reduced AM capacities in aphantasia. However, no study has investigated the impact on AM’s identity, directive, and social functions. In this study, participants with and without aphantasia completed AM self-questionnaires online. Aphantasic individuals report less use of their memories for identity or directive purposes than the non-aphantasic group but with no difference for social purposes. A lack of mental imagery seems to affect AM by impacting the sense of self and adapting to the environment but with no impact on social functions.

Authors

  • Prany Wantzen1
  • Arnaud Witt1

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to know if having a "blind mind’s eye"—known as aphantasia—changes how people use their personal memories. Specifically, they looked at whether a lack of mental imagery (the ability to picture things in your head) affects how we build our identity and make decisions.

How They Studied It

The study looked at 54 people: 25 with aphantasia and 29 "controls" (people with typical mental imagery). Participants completed online surveys asking how often they use their memories for three specific reasons:
1. Identity: Using the past to understand "who I am."
2. Directive: Using past experiences as a guide to solve problems or plan the future.
3. Social: Using stories from the past to bond with friends and family.

What They Found

The results showed that people with aphantasia use their memories differently:
  • Less "Self" and "Guide": Aphantasic participants were significantly less likely to use their memories to build their sense of identity or to help them make life decisions.
  • Social Success: Surprisingly, there was no difference in the social category. People with aphantasia use their memories to bond with others just as much as everyone else.
  • Faded Photos: When describing their memories, the aphantasia group rated them as less vivid and felt less like they were "reliving" the moment compared to the control group.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that mental images act like a "glue" that connects our past experiences to our current sense of self. Without those mental pictures, it might be harder to feel like the "you" from five years ago is the same person as the "you" today.
However, we should be careful: this was a small study of 54 people using self-reported surveys. It suggests a link between imagery and identity, but it doesn't prove that aphantasia causes these differences. People might simply use different, non-visual strategies to navigate their lives!

One Interesting Detail

Even though people with aphantasia couldn't "see" their memories, they were just as good at using them to be social. The researchers think this is because talking to friends provides "cues" that help us remember facts about our lives, even if we can't picture the scene.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.