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Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes
1Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|March 28, 2024
Summary
This study explores aphantasia and hyperphantasia, conditions of extremely low or high mental imagery vividness. Research suggests neural network connectivity may underlie these variations in sensory experience.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Mental imagery vividness varies significantly among individuals.
- Aphantasia (absent/reduced imagery) and hyperphantasia (vivid imagery) were recently defined phenomena.
- Extreme imagery variations affect approximately 1% (aphantasia) and 3% (hyperphantasia) of the population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of aphantasia and hyperphantasia.
- To explore the characteristics and potential neural underpinnings of extreme mental imagery.
- To understand the prevalence and associated features of these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and definitions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia.
- Analysis of population prevalence and familial patterns.
- Exploration of associated cognitive and neurological factors.
Main Results:
- Aphantasia is familial, impacts multiple sensory modalities, and is linked to memory and face recognition difficulties, and autism.
- Visual dreaming is often preserved in individuals with aphantasia.
- Preliminary findings indicate altered frontoparietal and visual network connectivity in extreme imagery.
Conclusions:
- Extreme variations in mental imagery (aphantasia, hyperphantasia) are distinct phenomena with potential neurological bases.
- Further research is needed to define subtypes and fully elucidate the neural mechanisms.
- Understanding these imagery extremes offers insights into brain function and individual differences.
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