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
This qualitative study examined six women with congenital aphantasia, finding that difficulties with autobiographical memory, facial recognition, and orientation most impact daily life. Participants reported feeling images exist but are inaccessible consciously, though some accessed unconscious imagery and experienced dream imagery.
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).
This study replicates Cui et al. (2007) with larger samples across the imagery spectrum, finding no significant relationship between imagery vividness and perceptual interference. The research challenges prior claims about vivid imagery enhancing visual 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
People with aphantasia can maintain precise spatial information in working memory using non-visual strategies like spatial and sensorimotor approaches. This finding shows that visual mental imagery is not necessary for effective visual working memory performance.
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
This study finds no clear behavioral differences between people with aphantasia and typical imagers on auditory imagery tasks, despite self-reported auditory imagery deficits. The finding suggests disconnect between subjective experience and measurable performance across sensory modalities.
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
People with aphantasia lack visual mental imagery but show specific deficits recalling object details from memory while preserving spatial memory. They compensate using symbolic and verbal strategies rather than visual representations.
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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