PSI-Q – The Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire
The PSI-Q (Andrade et al. 2014) is the original instrument that assesses imagery not only in vision but across seven sensory modalities. Here: its structure and limitations – and why our own test is called MST-21.
- Andrade et al., 2014
- 7 sensory modalities
- 35 items · short form 21
- Scale 0–10
Structure of the original PSI-Q
The PSI-Q was developed at the University of Plymouth and published by Andrade et al. in 2014 in the British Journal of Psychology. The long form has 35 items, the short form 21 items; each item is rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It covers seven sensory modalities:
- Vision (visual)
- Hearing (auditory)
- Smell (olfactory)
- Taste (gustatory)
- Touch (tactile)
- Bodily sensation
- Emotional feeling
The VVIQ (Marks 1973), by contrast, asks only about visual imagery.
What the PSI-Q is used for
The VVIQ alone leaves open whether someone also cannot imagine sounds, smells or touch. The PSI-Q gives a profile across all seven modalities. This makes it possible to describe whether weak imagery affects only vision or several senses (multisensory aphantasia).
Andrade et al. (2014) do not publish cut-offs for aphantasia. Anyone classifying PSI-Q scores therefore sets the boundaries themselves.
Limitations of the instrument
- Self-reportThe PSI-Q measures how vivid people judge their own imagery to be. Imagery cannot be compared directly with anyone else's – the answers depend on how each person interprets the scale.
- No established cut-offsThere are no published PSI-Q thresholds for aphantasia. Any classification of scores is a guide.
- Not a diagnosisA PSI-Q profile describes your imagery across different senses. It is not a medical diagnosis – aphantasia is not a disease.
Why aphantasie.org uses its own test
We do not offer the original PSIQ items for completion. The original items are published in a journal; we have not found an explicit free-use licence from the authors led by Jackie Andrade (University of Plymouth). We have instead developed the MST-21: our own self-test with the same methodology and items written in our own words for all 7 sensory modalities.
The MST-21 covers the same seven senses with 21 items written in our own words (scale 0–10). It has not been separately validated psychometrically. The ranges we use to describe MST-21 results are our own guide and do not come from Andrade et al. (2014).
Sources
- Andrade, J. et al. (2014). Assessing vividness of mental imagery: The Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire. British Journal of Psychology. doi:10.1111/bjop.12050
- Marks, D. F. (1973). Visual imagery differences in the recall of pictures. British Journal of Psychology, 64(1), 17–24. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1973.tb01322.x
Frequently asked questions about the PSI-Q
What distinguishes the PSI-Q from the VVIQ?
The VVIQ measures only visual imagery, while the PSI-Q covers seven sensory modalities: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, bodily sensation and emotional feeling. The result is a profile across the senses instead of a single score.
Can I take the original PSI-Q here?
No. We have not found an explicit free-use licence for the original items. Our own test, the MST-21, covers the same seven senses with items written in our own words – free, no sign-up, in approx. 10 minutes.
Are there PSI-Q cut-offs for aphantasia?
No. Andrade et al. (2014) do not publish thresholds. The ranges the MST-21 uses to describe results are a guide from aphantasie.org.
Can you have aphantasia in one sense but not in others?
That is possible: some people can barely imagine pictures but imagine sounds well – or the other way round. A profile across several senses, as in the PSI-Q, makes such differences visible.
Take the MST-21
Our own free MST-21 measures the same seven senses: 21 scenarios, approx. 10 minutes, no sign-up.
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Responsible: Onur Cirakoglu, founder of headon