Scientific Background
Neurology, cognition, and genetics of aphantasia – the current state of research
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Contents
Scientific research on aphantasia began only in 2015 with Adam Zeman's groundbreaking study. Since then, research has yielded important insights into neurological foundations, cognitive differences, and possible genetic factors.
Neurology: What Happens in the Brain?
Researchers describe mental imagery as 'Vision in Reverse' – the brain activates the visual cortex top-down instead of bottom-up like actual seeing. In aphantasia, Milton et al. (2021) found weaker resting-state coupling between prefrontal areas and the visual network; exactly how the top-down chain differs in aphantasia is still open.
- Weaker prefrontal–visual connectivity at rest, rather than a demonstrated blanket reduction in V1 activation (Milton et al. 2021)
- Seeing itself is not impaired
- Differences in connectivity between prefrontal cortex and visual system
Cognition & Memory
People with aphantasia show characteristic cognitive profiles. Autobiographical memory is often less episodic-detailed, instead relying more on semantic (factual) knowledge. This is not a deficit – just a different strategy.
- Autobiographical memory: fewer sensory details, more facts
- Semantic memory (factual knowledge): largely unremarkable in studies so far
- Problem-solving: often conceptual instead of visual
Genetics: Does Aphantasia Run in Families?
Initial studies suggest a genetic component. Aphantasia runs in families (Zeman et al. 2020, Cortex) – a first estimate found a roughly tenfold increased likelihood for siblings, but it relies on self-reports and has not been replicated.
- Familial clustering observed in multiple studies
- First, unreplicated risk estimate for siblings (Zeman et al. 2020)
- Specific genes not yet identified
Scientific Testing Methods
Three main methods are used to measure aphantasia: two subjective questionnaires and one objective test.
VVIQ (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire)
The most widely used questionnaire since 1973. 16 questions about visual imagery vividness. Scores from 16 (aphantasia) to 80 (hyperphantasia).
PSIQ (Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire)
Measures imagery across all 7 senses. Shows whether weak imagery affects only vision or several senses.
Binocular Rivalry
A test that does not rely on self-assessment. It uses the priming effect: imagined images 'win' the rivalry. Groups with aphantasia show no such effect on average; individual variation is large.
Our Test Instruments & Sources Used
The VST-16 and MST-21 on aphantasie.org follow the methodology of established research instruments (VVIQ and PSIQ) but contain items written in our own words. The underlying original instruments and key publications:
- Marks, D.F. (1973). British Journal of Psychology, 64(1), 17–24.
- Andrade, J., May, J., Deeprose, C., Baugh, S.-J., & Ganis, G. (2014). British Journal of Psychology, 105(4). doi:10.1111/bjop.12050
- Zeman, A., Dewar, M., & Della Sala, S. (2015). Cortex, 73, 378–380.
- Wright, D.J. et al. (2024). Frontiers in Psychology. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1454107
- Pearson, J., Clifford, C.W.G., & Tong, F. (2008). Current Biology, 18(13), 982–986.
- Pearson, J., Rademaker, R.L., & Tong, F. (2011). Psychological Science, 22(12), 1535–1542.
- Keogh, R., & Pearson, J. (2018). Cortex, 105, 53–60. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2017.10.012
- Monzel, M. et al. (2025). Behavior Research Methods. doi:10.3758/s13428-025-02780-6
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