AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
“I just see nothing. It’s literally just black”: a qualitative investigation into congenital aphantasia
Researchers found that aphantasia impacts autobiographical memory and facial recognition, while involuntary imagery often remains intact. This suggests that voluntary imagery is a key component of broader cognitive and social systems.
Pounder, Z., Agosto, G., Mackenzie, J.-M., & Cheshire, A. (2025). “i just see nothing. it’s literally just black”: a qualitative investigation into congenital aphantasia. Cogent Psychology, 12(1). doi:/10.1080/23311908.2025.2574255
Individual variability in mental imagery vividness does not predict perceptual interference with imagery: A replication study of Cui et al. (2007).
Researchers found no relationship between imagery vividness and perceptual interference, failing to replicate a key 2007 study. This suggests that subjective vividness is not a reliable objective measure of imagery's role in perception.
Azañón, E., Pounder, Z., Figueroa, A., & Reeder, R. R. (2025). Individual variability in mental imagery vividness does not predict perceptual interference with imagery: a replication study of cui et al. (2007).. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 154(7), 2043–2057. doi:10.1037/xge0001756
Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory
Aphantasics performed as well as typical imagers on visual working memory tasks by using non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies. This indicates that visual imagery is not a prerequisite for precise visual cognition.
Reeder, R. R., Pounder, Z., Figueroa, A., Jüllig, A., & Azañón, E. (2024). Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory. Cognition, 251, 105907. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105907
No clear evidence of a difference between individuals who self-report an absence of auditory imagery and typical imagers on auditory imagery tasks
People with aphantasia performed as well as typical imagers on auditory tasks despite reporting a lack of inner sound. This indicates a significant discrepancy between subjective imagery experience and objective behavioral performance.
Pounder, Z., Eardley, A. F., Loveday, C., & Evans, S. (2024). No clear evidence of a difference between individuals who self-report an absence of auditory imagery and typical imagers on auditory imagery tasks. PLOS ONE, 19(4), e0300219. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0300219
Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery
People with aphantasia perform as accurately as typical imagers on neuropsychological tasks despite lacking visual imagery experience. Response time differences suggest they may use alternative cognitive strategies to complete these tasks.
Pounder, Z., Jacob, J., Evans, S., Loveday, C., Eardley, A. F., & Silvanto, J. (2022). Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery. Cortex, 148, 180–192. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.010
Quantifying aphantasia through drawing: Those without visual imagery show deficits in object but not spatial memory
Aphantasics drew fewer objects and details from memory but showed spatial accuracy equivalent to controls. This dissociation suggests that object and spatial information are processed through distinct memory systems.
Bainbridge, W. A., Pounder, Z., Eardley, A. F., & Baker, C. I. (2021). Quantifying aphantasia through drawing: those without visual imagery show deficits in object but not spatial memory. Cortex, 135, 159–172. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2020.11.014
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