The relationship between multilingualism and visual imagery: Investigating aphantasia using the VVIQ

Abstract

The ability to generate vivid mental images plays a crucial role in cognitive and creative processes in a modern, visually-driven world. Visual imagery abilities contribute to problem-solving, memory retention, and artistic expression. However, some people lack visual imagery ability, a condition called aphantasia. The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) is designed to test visual imagery ability by self-reporting and prompting individuals to have mental images in their minds. Although numerous studies have investigated the interactions between aphantasia and various cognitive capacities, such as memory, learning, and neurological disorders, little research exists on the correlation between linguistics and visual imagery. This study aimed to investigate whether a positive correlation exists between multilingualism and visual imagery ability, hypothesizing that fluency in multiple languages enhances visual imagery skills, thereby reducing the likelihood of aphantasia. We tested this hypothesis on a group of 302 participants who completed the VVIQ. Our results indicate that speaking more languages correlates with higher VVIQ scores, suggesting that multilingualism may enhance visual imagery ability and reduce susceptibility to aphantasia. Further research that controls for variables such as age and gender is necessary to better understand the association between multilingualism and visual imagery ability.

Authors

• Youlan Li1
• Pei Guan1