Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale

Assessing the use of visual imagery in daily life.
Hosted By Aphantasia Network
This field is hidden when viewing the form

How do you use visual imagery in daily life?

The Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS) assesses how frequently you tend to use visual mental imagery in everyday situations.

Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring how imagery is used – or not used – in daily life for those experiencing imagination extremes, aphantasia and hyperphantasia.

Instructions: Please read each of the following descriptions and indicate the degree to which each is appropriate for you. Do not spend a lot of time thinking about each one, but respond based on your thoughts about how you do or do not perform each activity. There are no right or wrong answers, so please be as honest as possible in your responses.

How appropriate is each statement for you?

When I first hear a friend’s voice, a visual image of him or her almost always springs to mind.
When I think about a series of errands I must do, I visualize the stores I will visit.
When going to a new place, I prefer directions that include detailed descriptions of landmarks (such as the size, shape and color of a gas station) in addition to their names.
I prefer to read novels that lead me easily to visualize where the characters are and what they are doing instead of novels that are difficult to visualize.
If someone were to tell me two-digit numbers to add (e.g., 24 and 31), I would visualize them in order to add them.
If I am looking for new furniture in a store, I always visualize what the furniture would look like in particular places in my home.
Before I get dressed to go out, I first visualize what I will look like if I wear different combinations of clothes.
If I catch a glance of a car that is partially hidden behind bushes, I automatically “complete it,” seeing the entire car in my mind’s eye.
When I think about visiting a relative, I almost always have a clear mental picture of him or her.
When relatively easy technical material is described clearly in a text, I find illustrations distracting because they interfere with my ability to visualize the material.
If I saw a car accident, I would visualize what had happened when later trying to recall the details.
When I hear a radio announcer or DJ I’ve never actually seen, I usually find myself picturing what they might look like.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Kosslyn, S. M., Chabris, C., Shephard, J., & Thompson, W. (1998). Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS)

Contribute to Our Research

"*" indicates required fields

Help advance our studies by participating in our surveys.

Whether you're a returning contributor or joining us for the first time, simply enter your email below. We'll send you a quick confirmation code to get you started on your research journey with us!
Name