Defining imagination: a conceptual mapping and provisional model

Imagination is a central feature of human thought, yet it remains poorly defined and inconsistently conceptualized across disciplines, limiting cumulative progress in research. This paper proposes a provisional conceptual model of imagination aimed at organizing existing terminology and clarifying imagination's structure and role in human cognition.

Using a conceptual review approach, the authors synthesize literature from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and related fields, focusing on work that defines, measures, or models imagination. Sources were analyzed to identify recurring components and theoretical perspectives, which were then organized through an iterative process of comparison and integration.

The review identifies 60 dimensions of imagination (in addition to eight forms of applied imagination), organizing these literature-derived terms into three overarching domains: cognitive-narrative, sensory-motor, and social-emotional. Building on these domains, the paper advances a conceptual model in which imagination is defined as the capacity to simulate, reconfigure, and extend beyond reality. The model further proposes that imagination operates across varying levels of awareness and interacts dynamically with attention.

This work positions imagination as an integrated, multifaceted process that is deeply embedded in other core mental functions, including memory, planning, and social understanding, rather than as a separate faculty. By offering a framework and clarifying its underlying structure, this conceptual map provides a foundation for future empirical research and highlights the broad significance of imagination in shaping human experience and behavior.