When words paint the picture: accurate eyewitness IDs without visual imagery
Aphantasics showed improved lineup identification accuracy after providing verbal descriptions of a perpetrator. This suggests that individuals without mental imagery rely on verbal strategies to compensate for visual memory deficits.
Kleider-Offutt, H. M., & Meacham, A. M. (2026). When words paint the picture: accurate eyewitness ids without visual imagery. Psychology, Crime & Law, 1–23. doi:10.1080/1068316x.2026.2700782
A case of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) accompanied by highly frequent involuntary autobiographical memory
Researchers found that a 16-year-old with HSAM exhibited typical visual imagery vividness but significantly higher rates of involuntary memories. This suggests that superior memory may be driven by retrieval frequency rather than imagery ability.
Cleary, A. M., Okada, N., Bearden, D. J., Alfonso, D., Mills, C., Neisser, J., McNeely-White, K. L., Pedersen, N. P., & Drane, D. L. (2026). A case of highly superior autobiographical memory (hsam) accompanied by highly frequent involuntary autobiographical memory. Neurocase, 32(4), 152–166. doi:10.1080/13554794.2026.2701703
The role of visual imagery and verbal coding in short-term memory conjunctive binding: evidence from aphantasia
People with aphantasia remembered which color went with which shape as well as typical imagers, even for hard-to-name shapes. The authors conclude that neither imagery nor verbal labels is necessary for this kind of memory.
Delhaye, E., Fritz, P., Martial, C., & Bastin, C. (2026). The role of visual imagery and verbal coding in short-term memory conjunctive binding: evidence from aphantasia. Consciousness and Cognition, 141, 104036. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2026.104036
Challenging dual-coding theory: Picture superiority effects persist in aphantasia
Aphantasic individuals showed a robust picture superiority effect and recalled symbols better than pictures. This challenges dual-coding theory by demonstrating that visual imagery is not essential for the memory advantages of image-based stimuli.
Yan, M., Roberts, B. R., & Bainbridge, W. A. (2026). Challenging dual-coding theory: picture superiority effects persist in aphantasia. Neuropsychologia, 225, 109391. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109391
Aphantasia is associated with spatial memory and navigation difficulties in complex virtual environments
Visual imagery features centrally in many theories of spatial navigation, yet its contribution to wayfinding is unclear. Sea Hero Quest (SHQ), a navigation game for mobile devices that assesses spatial learning via visual maps and virtual environments, is well-suited to investigate the role of imagery in wayfinding. We examined if participants with aphantasia who report experiencing a lack of visual imagery would display greater difficulties navigating relative to controls on SHQ as demands on encoding complex visual information increase. Aphantasic participants (n=63, Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire <32) and controls (n=99, VVIQ=33-80) completed self-report measures of navigation, memory, and 8 SHQ levels varying in path complexity, destinations, and map characteristics. To estimate performance on the SHQ, trajectory length and completion time were normalised to thousands of controls (n=1203 to 246,329), comparable to each participant in terms of age and gender, and group difference and correlation analyses were conducted for self-report measures and SHQ metrics. Aphantasic participants scored significantly lower on self-report spatial and memory measures and took substantially more time than both control groups to complete high-difficulty levels, but not training or low-difficulty levels, relative to controls. Imagery ability was associated with performance on difficult levels as well as self-reported spatial ability and memory. Map viewing duration was not significantly associated with any variable. The findings indicate that visual imagery plays a central role in spatial navigation when recall of complex visual information is necessary. Wayfinding difficulties observed in the aphantasic individuals appear to be robust to alternative strategies, such as verbal encoding, which is unlikely sufficient to integrate across path length and circuitousness, decision points, and visibility factors that define environmental complexity.
Li, A., Coutrot, A., Faromika, T. I., Spiers, H. J., & Shayna Rosenbaum, R. (2026). Aphantasia is associated with spatial memory and navigation difficulties in complex virtual environments. Neuropsychologia, 109517. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109517
Imagination Beyond Mental Images
Haiku is often called a visual snapshot, but as a poet with aphantasia, I see nothing in my mind's eye. For forty years, I thought "picturing it" was a metaphor. From childhood memory tricks to professional poetry, I’ve learned that a mind without images doesn't lack imagination—it just meets the world through a direct and powerful connection between attention, relationship, and the timing of perception.
Influences of mental imagery at different stages of Atkinson’s and Shiffrin’s modal model: Visual imagery is associated with enhanced iconic memory performance
People with aphantasia recalled fewer letters than others from a grid flashed for 50 milliseconds, but not from one shown for 5 seconds. This suggests imagery helps hold a split-second visual trace, while other strategies work given more time.
Monzel, M., Yang, C., Plancher, G., Milton, F., & Reuter, M. (2026). Influences of mental imagery at different stages of atkinson’s and shiffrin’s modal model: visual imagery is associated with enhanced iconic memory performance. Cortex. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2026.04.011
State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy
In 60 adults, neither questionnaire imagery scores nor average vividness predicted memory for scenes, but memories rated more vivid than a person's own average were more often correct. Re-analyzed aphantasia data showed the same trial-level link.
Duckett, W., & Simons, J. S. (2026). State but not trait measures of vividness relate to memory accuracy. Neuropsychologia, 224, 109399. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109399
Impact of aphantasia on identity and directive function of autobiographical memory
Aphantasics reported less frequent use of autobiographical memory for identity and directive purposes than controls. This suggests that a lack of mental imagery may alter how individuals utilize their personal past to guide future behavior and self-concept.
Wantzen, P., & Witt, A. (2026). Impact of aphantasia on identity and directive function of autobiographical memory. L’Année psychologique, Vol. 126(1), 55–73. doi:10.3917/anpsy1.261.0055
Congenital aphantasia is not imagery blindsight
Researchers argue that congenital aphantasia is not "imagery blindsight" because individuals retain high-level accuracy and conscious access to information via non-visual routes. This suggests aphantasia involves a selective inability to format information into a quasi-visual experience.
Bartolomeo, P., & Arcangeli, M. (2026). Congenital aphantasia is not imagery blindsight. Cortex, 197, 112–114. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2026.02.009
Remembering without mental imagery: A case study of aphantasia
A man with aphantasia showed memory deficits when tasks required visual reconstruction rather than verbal strategies. This indicates mental imagery is essential for episodic visual simulation and linking visual memory to emotions.
Guillaume, F., & Armand, C. (2026). Remembering without mental imagery: a case study of aphantasia. L’Année psychologique, Vol. 126(1), 27–54. doi:10.3917/anpsy1.261.0027
Emotion may indirectly link rendering and social reasoning
Researchers propose that visual imagery links to social reasoning and autobiographical memory indirectly through emotional activation. This suggests that "graphical rendering" in the mind serves as a vital building block for emotional and social processing.
Balaban, H., & Ullman, T. D. (2026). Emotion may indirectly link rendering and social reasoning. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.12.009
Rendering aphantasia into the social realm
Replying to a proposal that aphantasia reflects broken mental "rendering," this letter argues that conscious object imagery is unlikely to be a useless by-product. Links with memory, empathy and emotion suggest it may support social life.
Zeman, A., Digard, B., Happé, F., Levine, B., & Monzel, M. (2026). Rendering aphantasia into the social realm. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.11.014
The role of subjective interoception in autobiographical deficits in aphantasia
People with aphantasia report significantly lower interceptive awareness and emotional engagement with bodily signals. This suggests that mental imagery plays a key role in linking internal bodily states to the recall of personal memories.
Monzel, M., Nagai, Y., & Silvanto, J. (2025). The role of subjective interoception in autobiographical deficits in aphantasia. Scientific Reports, 15(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-025-23270-x
“Unseen strategies” what can the experience of Aphantasia teach us about cognitive strategies in memory?
Five people with aphantasia described leaning on facts, a soundless inner voice, and notes, photos and other people to remember. The authors suggest these strategies help but only partly offset real memory difficulties.
Hayes, S. J., Miles, G. E., & Evans, S.-A. (2026). “unseen strategies” what can the experience of aphantasia teach us about cognitive strategies in memory?. New Ideas in Psychology, 80, 101215. doi:/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101215
“I just see nothing. It’s literally just black”: a qualitative investigation into congenital aphantasia
A qualitative study found that congenital aphantasia impacts autobiographical memory, facial recognition, and orientation in everyday life. This highlights how the absence of voluntary visual imagery can influence broader cognitive domains and personal identity.
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