Sign in
Sign up

Topic: Mental Health

Aphantasia is not a mental disorder, but the discovery of aphantasia can be a psychological stressor for some new discoverers. Discover more about the link between aphantasia and mental health through these resources.

  • 6 Articles
  • 25 Discussions
  • 2 Videos
  • 10 Research
Aphantasia, Neurodiversity, and Aphantasia
Strategies
Aphantasia, Neurodiversity, and Healing
A psychology practitioner begins to bridge the gap between practitioner and client in relation to aphantasia.
Rebecca McHale
on August 20, 2023
I Am Aphantasic
Stories
I Am Aphantasic
Aphantasia is not something I have; it is something I am.
Ed Labine
on July 31, 2023
Discovering I Have Aphantasia
Stories
Discovering I Have Aphantasia
A clinical therapist with total aphantasia, mental illness, autism, and other neurodiversities shares her perspectives and strategies.
Neesa Sunar
on June 25, 2023
imagery in mental healthcare
Science
Revisualizing the Role of Imagery in Mental Healthcare
Visualization is often used in mental wellness and therapy, but what does this mean for those with aphantasia?
Reshanne Reeder and Bridget Mawtus
on May 23, 2023
therapy and aphantasia
Strategies
Discover You: Navigating Therapy and Aphantasia
Realizing you have aphantasia is a discovery. Discoveries can be challenging. Tips for navigating therapy and aphantasia.
Harrison Chapman
on January 26, 2021
case of aphantasia
Stories
A Case of Aphantasia
What if there was a "cure"? A fictional story about a man who’s aphantasia is cured in therapy with a fictional technology. That cure comes at a deep cost.
Dustin Grinnell
on June 1, 2020
Charles Peck
March 28, 2023
I have Aphantasia and I am Ok
Hello all, I’m Chuck and I have Aphantasia. I have an amazing memory for facts, bits of history, and all kinds of things. I multi task better than most. I do...
Helen Kinch
February 9, 2023
Rewind Therapy: Knowledge or Experience Anyone?
I am troubled at present by PTSD. I have heard about Rewind Therapy – that it is highly effective without the need to re-live nasty stuff, but that it ...
Rubber Ducky
December 4, 2022
Does aphantasia affect the way we experience mental disorders?  
So this just popped into my mind but do you think that aphantasia can affect disorders, for example how someone experiences ADHD or Autism? I have suspected ...
Amuah
May 15, 2022
ADHD and Aphantasia?
One of my friends is convinced that I have ADHD (they do) or some disorder similar. I’ve never thought so, because I’ve had descriptions of ADHD ...
Dave Series
April 29, 2022
Does having Aphantasia lessen the risk of PTSD
I am wondering this because I have had a lot of things happen (multiple things that are known triggers)  in my life that have typically messed other people u...
Deena Gordon
April 25, 2022
How might aphantasia and seasonal affective disorder be related??
After coming across an article on aphantasia I am fascinated.  I am hugely creative (making connections to seemingly unrelated things) but feel like I only &...
Birgit Eisinger-Wolf
March 5, 2022
A lot of problems with Aphantasia
I feel very limited by the aphantasia. I don’t see any pictures, I don’t feel any smell and I don’t hear any sounds when my eyes are closed...
Lerimeedvy
January 2, 2022
Hypersensitive to noise, car head lights etc
Hello. I have aphantasia and my other senses are affected too, e.g I can’t imagine tastes, smells, music etc.  I have always struggled with too much li...
Victor Pimenta
August 17, 2021
Effects of ketamine or electroconvulsive therapy on aphantasia
Hello! I am being treated for severe refractory depression and the next step will be the application of ketamine and/or electroconvulsive therapy. I also hav...
Joni Richardson
July 27, 2021
Mental Health Misdiagnoses?
Hello, I’m currently diagnosed with both Bipolar 1 and ADHD. After finding out that I have Aphantasia this weekend, I’ve realised there’s v...
Aphantasia is not a disorder
Is Aphantasia a Disorder?
Recent research reveals that aphantasia, while not a mental disorder, can be a psychological stressor for some who newly discover they have it. Psychologist Merlin Monzel discussed these findings with the Aphantasia Network.
March 14, 2023
“Literally, can you picture it?” All about Aphantasia
Why might traditional therapy not work for aphantasics? Tom Ebeyer, Founder of the Aphantasia Network speaks with Cristina Crowe, a Canadian Registered Psychotherapist about Aphantasia.
December 5, 2022
Aphantasia within the framework of neurodivergence: Some preliminary data and the curse of the confidence gap
Monzel, M., Dance, C., Azañón, E., & Simner, J. (2023). Aphantasia within the framework of neurodivergence: Some preliminary data and the curse of the confidence gap. Consciousness and Cognition, 115, 103567. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2023.103567
The term "neurodiversity" refers to the varied ways people think, learn, and behave, emphasizing that there's no single "correct" way and that differences shouldn't be seen as deficits. This concept often encompasses conditions like Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia, which diverge from societal norms but can also bring unique strengths. The paper discusses aphantasia, a condition where individuals can't voluntarily visualize images. While they know what things look like, they can't form a mental picture. Despite being a minority, with 3.9% of the population affected, its prevalence is significant. There's debate on whether aphantasia is a disorder or just a neutral form of neurodivergence. This paper argues against viewing aphantasia as a disorder, emphasizing the broader context of neurodiversity.
Measuring imagery strength in schizophrenia: no evidence of enhanced mental imagery priming
Wagner, S., & Monzel, M. (2023). Measuring imagery strength in schizophrenia: no evidence of enhanced mental imagery priming. Brain and Behavior, e3146. doi:10.1002/brb3.3146
This study aimed to explore the relationship between visual imagery, schizophrenia, and the occurrence of hallucinations. The researchers compared a group of 16 individuals with schizophrenia to a group of 44 individuals without the condition. They used questionnaires and a visual imagery task to measure the vividness of visual imagery, and the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale to assess the occurrence of hallucinations.The results revealed that participants with schizophrenia reported more hallucinatory experiences compared to those without schizophrenia. However, surprisingly, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the vividness of visual imagery as measured by both the questionnaire and the visual imagery task. Interestingly, a positive correlation was found between the vividness of visual imagery measured by the questionnaire and the visual imagery task. This indicates that the measurement tools used were reliable in assessing visual imagery. These findings suggest that the association between mental imagery vividness and schizophrenia may be more complex than previously thought. While individuals with schizophrenia experience more hallucinations, their visual imagery vividness does not appear to be enhanced. This suggests that other aspects of mental imagery may be more relevant in understanding the relationship between mental imagery and schizophrenia.
Imaginal extinction without imagery: Dissociating the effects of visual imagery and propositional thought by contrasting participants with aphantasia, simulated aphantasia, and controls
Monzel, M., Agren, T., Tengler, M., & Reuter, M. (2023). Imaginal extinction without imagery: Dissociating the effects of visual imagery and propositional thought by contrasting participants with aphantasia, simulated aphantasia, and controls. Psychophysiology, e14271. doi:10.1111/psyp.14271
The study investigates the effectiveness of imaginal exposure in individuals with aphantasia, a condition characterized by the absence of mental imagery but intact propositional thought. Imaginal exposure is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique used in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. The aim is to determine whether visual imagery or propositional thought is crucial for fear reduction and treatment success in imagination-based therapies. The research involved participants with aphantasia and two control groups. Control group 1 simulated aphantasia by staring at a bright screen to disrupt visual imagery, while control group 2 and the participants with actual aphantasia kept their eyes closed. The study examined the efficacy of imaginal extinction, which is the reduction of fear through imaginal exposure, in these groups. The findings of the study have implications for the design of imaginal exposure. If imaginal extinction is effective despite aphantasia or simulated aphantasia, it suggests that less vivid exposure methods could be used to reduce distress and therapy dropout. On the other hand, if imaginal extinction is not effective in individuals with aphantasia, it supports Peter Lang's Bio-Informational Theory and indicates that imaginal exposure may not be suitable for all patient groups.
Fewer intrusive memories in aphantasia: using the trauma film paradigm as a laboratory model of PTSD
Keogh, R., Wicken, M., & Pearson, J. (2023, January 23). Fewer intrusive memories in aphantasia: using the trauma film paradigm as a laboratory model of PTSD. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7zqfe
The study investigated the role of visual imagery in the experience of intrusive memories after a traumatic event. Intrusive memories are a hallmark of post-traumatic stress disorder and are typically described as visual. The study compared individuals with aphantasia, who have no visual imagery, with those who have visual imagery in terms of their experiences of intrusive memories. Participants watched a traumatic film and recorded their intrusions in a digital diary app for a week. The results showed that individuals with aphantasia experienced fewer intrusive memories and that these were mostly verbal rather than visual. This suggests that visual imagery plays a role in the number of intrusive memories experienced after a traumatic event and has implications for understanding and treating PTSD.
No general pathological significance of aphantasia: An evaluation based on criteria for mental disorders
Monzel, M., Vetterlein, A., & Reuter, M. (2022). No general pathological significance of aphantasia: An evaluation based on criteria for mental disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. doi:10.1111/sjop.12887
The present study aimed to determine whether aphantasia, a condition where an individual lacks the ability to voluntarily form mental images, meets the criteria to be considered a mental disorder. The study was conducted on a sample of 156 individuals with aphantasia and 131 controls, and assessed their memory, theory of mind, depression, anxiety, and well-being levels. Results showed that while aphantasia is a rare condition with an estimated prevalence of 3.5 to 4.8%, it had a weak impact on daily activities and personal distress, so it cannot be considered a mental disorder. However, a subgroup of 34.7% of individuals with aphantasia reported distress levels that were associated with lower well-being, high anxiety, and depression levels. This study highlights the need for further investigation and psychological assessment in individual cases, to determine if and how aphantasia affects an individual's mental health.
Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery extremes
Keogh, R., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2021). Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery extremes. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 178, 277–296. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-821377-3.00012-X
Visual imagery allows us to revisit the appearance of things in their absence and to test out virtual combinations of sensory experience. Visual imagery has been linked to many cognitive processes, such as autobiographical and visual working memory. Imagery also plays symptomatic and mechanistic roles in neurologic and mental disorders and is utilized in treatment. A large network of brain activity spanning frontal, parietal, temporal, and visual cortex is involved in generating and maintain images in mind. The ability to visualize has extreme variations, ranging from completely absent (aphantasia) to photo-like (hyperphantasia). The anatomy and functionality of visual cortex, including primary visual cortex, have been associated with individual differences in visual imagery ability, pointing to a potential correlate for both aphantasia and hyperphantasia. Preliminary evidence suggests that lifelong aphantasia is associated with prosopagnosia and reduction in autobiographical memory; hyperphantasia is associated with synesthesia. Aphantasic individuals can also be highly imaginative and are able to complete many tasks that were previously thought to rely on visual imagery, demonstrating that visualization is only one of many ways of representing things in their absence. The study of extreme imagination reminds us how easily invisible differences can escape detection.
A cognitive profile of multi-sensory imagery, memory and dreaming in aphantasia
Dawes, A. J., Keogh, R., Andrillon, T., & Pearson, J. (2020). A cognitive profile of multi-sensory imagery, memory and dreaming in aphantasia. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 10022. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65705-7
Visual imagery is an important part of many people's internal experiences and helps with cognitive processes. However, some individuals with aphantasia lack the ability to generate visual imagery. Recent research suggests that aphantasia is defined by a lack of visual imagery and not a lack of awareness of it. A study showed that compared to people who have the ability to create imagery, aphantasic individuals have decreased imagery in other senses, but not all report a complete lack of multi-sensory imagery. They also have less vivid and rich memories and future scenarios, and fewer and less vivid dreams. However, their spatial abilities remain unchanged and aphantasic individuals do not appear to be considerably protected against all forms of trauma symptomatology in response to stressful life events. These findings suggest that visual imagery is a normal tool for representing events, but with large variability between individuals.
Cortical excitability controls the strength of mental imagery
Keogh, R., Bergmann, J., & Pearson, J. (2020). Cortical excitability controls the strength of mental imagery. ELife, 9. doi:10.7554/eLife.50232
In this study, researchers aimed to understand the connection between brain activity and the strength of mental imagery. Mental imagery plays a crucial role in memory and future planning, and its strength has been linked to both cognitive function and mental health. The study used brain imaging and a technique called transcranial magnetic phosphene stimulation to assess the relationship between brain activity and the strength of visual imagery. The results showed that lower levels of brain activity in the early visual cortex (V1-V3) were associated with stronger sensory imagery. The team also found that decreasing the excitability of the visual cortex using a technique called tDCS increased the strength of imagery. These findings suggest that the level of excitability in the visual cortex plays a crucial role in controlling the strength of mental images.
The human imagination: the cognitive neuroscience of visual mental imagery
Pearson, J. (2019). The human imagination: the cognitive neuroscience of visual mental imagery. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 20(10), 624–634. doi:10.1038/s41583-019-0202-9
This research discusses the study of the brain mechanisms involved in visual mental imagery. It examines the recent findings and insights into the role of mental imagery in cognitive processes and its effects on general cognition. The review highlights the range of imagery vividness and strength, from absence to photo-like, and how this can be linked to the anatomy and function of the primary visual cortex. The study also discusses the use of mental imagery as a tool in various cognitive processes, including memory recall, and its role in neurological and mental disorders and treatments. The research concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the neural mechanisms behind mental imagery and its impact on cognition.
New directions in mental imagery research: The binocular rivalry technique and decoding fMRI patterns
Pearson, J. (2014). New directions in mental-imagery research. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(3), 178–183. doi:10.1177/0963721414532287
The study focuses on the recent advancements in understanding mental imagery, a topic that has been of interest for thousands of years but only recently has been studied scientifically. The study uses two new techniques - the binocular-rivalry technique in behavioral psychophysics and decoding techniques in brain imaging - to uncover new insights into how mental imagery is created and how it is involved in high-level cognitive processes and mental disorders. The findings are igniting further research in the field.