Inner Monologue Test — Do You Have an Inner Voice?
A free self-test for how often you experience inner speech — from dialogic self-talk to voices of other people in your head. 15 statements in 5 groups, scale 1–5. Methodology modeled on inner speech research (VISQ-R: Alderson-Day et al., 2018) — with entirely original items.
What does the IST-15 measure?
The IST-15 is aphantasie.org's own self-assessment. Its structure follows the methodology of research questionnaires on inner speech (VISQ-R: Alderson-Day et al., 2018); all items are original formulations. It is a self-assessment, not a psychometrically validated instrument, and does not diagnose anendophasia.
The IST-15 (Inner Speech Test) is a self-test by aphantasie.org. Its structure follows the methodology of the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire – Revised (VISQ-R, Alderson-Day, Mitrenga, Wilkinson, McCarthy-Jones & Fernyhough, 2018) — a validated instrument used in inner speech research. All 15 items are original formulations by aphantasie.org.
The test covers 5 dimensions of inner speech (dialogic, evaluative, other people's voices, condensed, regulatory) with 3 items each. You rate on a scale from 1–5 how often each statement applies to you. The verbal score (6–30, dialogic + other-voices subscales combined) is the primary axis, as it relates most closely to the presence of experienced inner speech in the research literature.
The IST-15 is a self-report measure, not a psychometrically validated instrument or diagnostic tool. There is no published clinical cutoff for anendophasia (absence of inner speech) — current research even debates whether it's a clearly separable category. Our result bands are a transparent internal convention, not a scientific citation.
Methodological basis
- Alderson-Day, B., Mitrenga, K., Wilkinson, S., McCarthy-Jones, S., & Fernyhough, C. (2018). The varieties of inner speech questionnaire – Revised (VISQ-R): Replicating and refining links between inner speech and psychopathology. Consciousness and Cognition, 65, 48–58.
- Nedergaard, J.S.K., & Lupyan, G. (2024). Not Everybody Has an Inner Voice: Behavioral Consequences of Anendophasia. Psychological Science.
Take the IST-15 Test
Take 5 minutes in a quiet, undisturbed environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the IST-15
What is the IST-15?
The IST-15 (Inner Speech Test) is an original self-test by aphantasie.org. It follows the methodology of the VISQ-R (Alderson-Day et al., 2018) but contains entirely original items.
What is anendophasia?
Anendophasia describes a reduced or absent experience of inner speech — thinking without an 'inner voice' narrating thoughts in words. It is a normal, non-clinical variation and is being actively researched (e.g. Nedergaard & Lupyan, 2024); it is not a validated diagnosis with fixed criteria.
How long does the IST-15 take?
The IST-15 takes about 5 minutes. You answer 15 statements on a 5-point scale and get your result instantly.
What does my verbal score mean?
Your verbal score (6–30) combines the dialogic and other-voices subscales, which research links most closely to experienced inner speech. There is no published clinical cutoff for anendophasia — our result bands are a transparent internal convention, not a diagnosis.
Is the IST-15 scientifically validated?
The IST-15 follows the methodology of inner speech research (VISQ-R: Alderson-Day et al. 2018), but contains original items and has not been separately psychometrically validated. It is a self-report measure for personal orientation — not a diagnostic instrument.
Is there an official test for having no inner voice?
There is no single, publicly available test that definitively diagnoses anendophasia. Researchers typically use percentile-based extreme groups on validated questionnaires (like the IRQ or VISQ-R) rather than a fixed cutoff. The IST-15 is aphantasie.org's own, freely accessible self-assessment inspired by this research.
Is the IST-15 free?
Yes. The test is completely free, runs directly in your browser without registration, and delivers your result instantly.
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Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions about the IST-15 Test
What is the IST-15?
The IST-15 (Inner Speech Test) is an original self-test by aphantasie.org. It follows the methodology of the VISQ-R (Alderson-Day et al., 2018) but contains entirely original items.
What is anendophasia?
Anendophasia describes a reduced or absent experience of inner speech — thinking without an 'inner voice' narrating thoughts in words. It is a normal, non-clinical variation and is being actively researched (e.g. Nedergaard & Lupyan, 2024); it is not a validated diagnosis with fixed criteria.
How long does the IST-15 take?
The IST-15 takes about 5 minutes. You answer 15 statements on a 5-point scale and get your result instantly.
What does my verbal score mean?
Your verbal score (6–30) combines the dialogic and other-voices subscales, which research links most closely to experienced inner speech. There is no published clinical cutoff for anendophasia — our result bands are a transparent internal convention, not a diagnosis.
Is the IST-15 scientifically validated?
The IST-15 follows the methodology of inner speech research (VISQ-R: Alderson-Day et al. 2018), but contains original items and has not been separately psychometrically validated. It is a self-report measure for personal orientation — not a diagnostic instrument.
Is there an official test for having no inner voice?
There is no single, publicly available test that definitively diagnoses anendophasia. Researchers typically use percentile-based extreme groups on validated questionnaires (like the IRQ or VISQ-R) rather than a fixed cutoff. The IST-15 is aphantasie.org's own, freely accessible self-assessment inspired by this research.
Is the IST-15 free?
Yes. The test is completely free, runs directly in your browser without registration, and delivers your result instantly.