AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
A Neural Model of Conscious Mental Imagery and Aphantasia
Aphantasia involves impaired top-down integration and amplification of visual signals despite preserved initial generation. This suggests conscious imagery is an active attentional process rather than passive sensory reactivation.
Liu, J. (2026). A neural model of conscious mental imagery and aphantasia. Neuropsychologia, 109392. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109392
Absence of shared representation in the visual cortex challenges unconscious imagery in aphantasia
Neural activity during imagery in aphantasics does not share the same representational patterns as actual perception. This challenges the theory of unconscious imagery, suggesting aphantasics instead utilize alternative cognitive strategies.
Scholz, C. O., Monzel, M., & Liu, J. (2025). Absence of shared representation in the visual cortex challenges unconscious imagery in aphantasia. Current Biology, 35(13), R645–R646. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.009
Aphantasia as a functional disconnection
Researchers discovered a functional disconnection between the left fusiform imagery node and the left prefrontal cortex in aphantasia. This suggests the condition stems from a failure to integrate visual knowledge into conscious awareness.
Liu, J., & Bartolomeo, P. (2025). Aphantasia as a functional disconnection. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.012
Visual mental imagery in typical imagers and in aphantasia: A millimeter-scale 7-T fMRI study
Aphantasics show typical visual cortex activity but reduced connectivity between the fusiform imagery node and frontoparietal areas. This suggests conscious imagery requires the integration of visual and control networks.
Liu, J., Zhan, M., Hajhajate, D., Spagna, A., Dehaene, S., Cohen, L., & Bartolomeo, P. (2025). Visual mental imagery in typical imagers and in aphantasia: a millimeter-scale 7-t fmri study. Cortex, 185, 113–132. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2025.01.013
Probing the unimaginable: The impact of aphantasia on distinct domains of visual mental imagery and visual perception
People with aphantasia showed normal accuracy but slower response times and lower confidence on imagery and perceptual tasks. This suggests the condition may be a metacognitive deficit rather than a total lack of access to visual information.
Liu, J., & Bartolomeo, P. (2023). Probing the unimaginable: the impact of aphantasia on distinct domains of visual mental imagery and visual perception. Cortex, 166, 338–347. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.003
Visual mental imagery engages the left fusiform gyrus, but not the early visual cortex: A meta-analysis of neuroimaging evidence
Visual mental imagery engages the left fusiform gyrus and fronto-parietal networks, but not the early visual cortex. This suggests that imagery relies on high-level associative areas instead of the primary sensory regions used for perception.
Spagna, A., Hajhajate, D., Liu, J., & Bartolomeo, P. (2021). Visual mental imagery engages the left fusiform gyrus, but not the early visual cortex: a meta-analysis of neuroimaging evidence. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 122, 201–217. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.029
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