AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
The role of mental imagery in worry: Insights from aphantasia
Aphantasics worry as often as imagers but catastrophize less and find it easier to stop worrying. This indicates that mental imagery is not necessary for worry but amplifies its distressing and persistent qualities.
Dance, C., Meeten, F., & Simner, J. (2025). The role of mental imagery in worry: insights from aphantasia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 193, 104838. doi:/10.1016/j.brat.2025.104838
Sensory representations in primary visual cortex are not sufficient for subjective imagery
Aphantasics showed decodable visual cortex activity during spontaneous tasks despite reporting no subjective imagery. This proves sensory representations are not sufficient for conscious experience and suggests the precuneus mediates imagery.
Cabbai, G., Racey, C., Simner, J., Dance, C., Ward, J., & Forster, S. (n.d.). Sensory representations in primary visual cortex are not sufficient for subjective imagery. doi:10.1101/2024.01.10.574972
Mental imagery and visual attentional templates: A dissociation
Aphantasics implemented visual attentional templates as effectively as controls despite lacking mental imagery. This demonstrates that the automatic mechanisms guiding attention are distinct from the processes responsible for conscious mental images.
Cabbai, G., Brown, C. R., Dance, C., Simner, J., & Forster, S. (2023). Mental imagery and visual attentional templates: a dissociation. Cortex, 169, 259–278. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2023.09.014
The role of visual imagery in face recognition and the construction of facial composites. Evidence from Aphantasia
People with aphantasia lack visual imagery but produce equally accurate facial composites as people with intact imagery. However, aphantasics show weaker face recognition abilities overall.
Dance, C. J., Hole, G., & Simner, J. (2023). The role of visual imagery in face recognition and the construction of facial composites. evidence from aphantasia. Cortex, 167, 318–334. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.015
Aphantasia within the framework of neurodivergence: Some preliminary data and the curse of the confidence gap
People with aphantasia underestimate their performance on visual tasks despite having typical school grades. This confidence gap suggests that framing aphantasia as a disorder may cause harmful and unnecessary self-stigmatization.
Monzel, M., Dance, C., Azañón, E., & Simner, J. (2023). Aphantasia within the framework of neurodivergence: some preliminary data and the curse of the confidence gap. Consciousness and Cognition, 115, 103567. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2023.103567
Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: A response to Lambert and Sibley (2022) and Simner and Dance (2022)
Researchers propose defining aphantasia as the absence of voluntary sensory imagery across any modality. This unified terminology avoids confusing new jargon while acknowledging that imagery extremes often affect multiple senses.
Monzel, M., Mitchell, D., Macpherson, F., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2022). Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: a response to lambert and sibley (2022) and simner and dance (2022). Cortex, 152, 74–76. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.04.003
Aphantasia, dysikonesia, anauralia: call for a single term for the lack of mental imagery–Commentary on Dance et al. (2021) and Hinwar and Lambert (2021)
Researchers argue that aphantasia should be the universal term for lacking mental imagery across all sensory modalities. This unified terminology prevents confusion and facilitates clearer communication within the scientific community.
Monzel, M., Mitchell, D., Macpherson, F., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2022). Aphantasia, dysikonesia, anauralia: call for a single term for the lack of mental imagery–commentary on dance et al. (2021) and hinwar and lambert (2021). Cortex, 150, 149–152. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.02.002
The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population
Researchers found that aphantasia affects 3.9% of the general population, with 0.8% experiencing a complete absence of imagery. This provides a reliable prevalence estimate to serve as a benchmark for future research into the trait.
Dance, C., Ipser, A., & Simner, J. (2022). The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population. Consciousness and Cognition, 97, 103243. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2021.103243
What is the Link Between Mental Imagery and Sensory Sensitivity? Insights from Aphantasia
People with aphantasia report weak imagery across multiple senses and lower sensitivity to external sensory stimuli. This suggests aphantasia is part of a broader multi-modal deficit potentially linked to low cortical excitability.
Dance, C. J., Ward, J., & Simner, J. (2021). What is the link between mental imagery and sensory sensitivity? insights from aphantasia. Perception, 50(9), 757–782. doi:10.1177/03010066211042186
Imagine, and you will find – Lack of attentional guidance through visual imagery in aphantasics
Aphantasics lack the attentional guidance typically provided by visual imagery during search tasks. This suggests mental images are functional components of cognition rather than mere epiphenomena.
Monzel, M., Keidel, K., & Reuter, M. (2021). Imagine, and you will find – lack of attentional guidance through visual imagery in aphantasics. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 83(6), 2486–2497. doi:10.3758/s13414-021-02307-z
Behavioral and Neural Signatures of Visual Imagery Vividness Extremes: Aphantasia versus Hyperphantasia
Aphantasia is linked to reduced autobiographical memory and weaker connectivity between prefrontal and visual brain networks. This validates aphantasia as a distinct neurobiological condition with measurable behavioral and neural signatures.
Milton, F., Fulford, J., Dance, C., Gaddum, J., Heuerman-Williamson, B., Jones, K., Knight, K. F., MacKisack, M., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2021). Behavioral and neural signatures of visual imagery vividness extremes: aphantasia versus hyperphantasia. Cerebral Cortex Communications, 2(2). doi:10.1093/texcom/tgab035
What is the relationship between Aphantasia, Synaesthesia and Autism?
Aphantasics experience synaesthesia at typical rates but report higher autistic traits in social and imaginative domains. This suggests visual imagery is not required for synaesthesia but may support social and imaginative cognition.
Dance, C., Jaquiery, M., Eagleman, D., Porteous, D., Zeman, A., & Simner, J. (2021). What is the relationship between aphantasia, synaesthesia and autism?. Consciousness and Cognition, 89, 103087. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2021.103087
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