Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

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Eker, O., Ozer, B., & Gencel, N. (2024). Effect of aphantasia on academic achievement and learning styles in higher education. International Journal on Studies in Education, 6(4), 644–657. doi:10.46328/ijonse.262

Abstract

This investigation targets to clarify Learning Styles (LSs) of aphantasic and non-aphantasic higher education students/graduates in accordance with Vermunt Learning Style Model and to LSs of the participants according to their demographic characteristics such as gender and age. Model of study is relational screening and research was carried out online with 260 volunteer participants. "Vermunt Learning Styles Inventory" was utilized to determine LSs of two separate groups with and without aphanatic. Although there are many studies on the LSs in literature, there are very limited study on the Vermunt Learning Style. Differences were found in the learning orientation and academic success of aphantasic people compared to non-aphantasic people. It was concluded that academic achievements of aphantasic participants were higher than the academic achievements of the non-aphantasic participants. When literature is examined, there is no research to examine level of imagination in terms of the LSs and academic success. Therefore, it is thought that the studies to be carried out by expanding scope with different sample groups will contribute to the aphantasic individuals, students and educators with this research. More studies can be done on this subject and experiments can be made for its use in the field of guidance.

Authors

Oznur Eker1
Bayram Ozer1
Nurgun Gencel1

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to know if having aphantasia—the inability to create mental images in the "mind's eye"—affects how students learn and how well they perform in university. Since many teaching methods rely on visual aids and mental picturing, the study explored whether people with aphantasia develop different learning strategies or face unique academic challenges.

How They Studied It

The researchers conducted an online study involving 214 participants, including university students and graduates. Participants were divided into two groups: those with aphantasia and those with typical mental imagery. They completed the "Inventory of Learning Styles," which measures how people process information, stay motivated, and manage their studies. The researchers also collected data on the participants' academic grades to see if there was a link between their imagery ability and their school success.

What They Found

The study found that having aphantasia did not significantly impact a student's overall academic achievement. Students with aphantasia performed just as well as their peers who could visualize. However, there were differences in how they learned. Students with aphantasia were less likely to use certain "processing strategies" that rely on mental pictures. Instead, they often relied more on logic, text-based information, and analytical thinking to master their subjects.

What This Might Mean

These findings suggest that while aphantasia changes the internal "tools" a student uses to learn, it doesn't prevent them from succeeding at a high level. It highlights the brain's flexibility; when one method (like mental visualization) isn't available, the mind naturally leans on other strengths. For educators, this suggests that offering diverse ways to learn—such as using both visual diagrams and clear written explanations—can support all types of thinkers.

One Interesting Detail

The study noted that while people with aphantasia may struggle to remember specific visual details of an object from memory, they are often just as good at "spatial" tasks, such as remembering where objects are located in a room or navigating through a building.

Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

Abstract

Authors

Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

Abstract

Authors

Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

Abstract

Authors

Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

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

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