SIMNER_Consciousness_and_Cognition_NOV_2021.pdf (295.33 kB)
The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 02:00 authored by Carla DanceCarla Dance, A Ipser, Julia SimnerJulia SimnerVisual mental imagery is the ability to create a quasi-perceptual visual picture in the mind's eye. For people with the rare trait of aphantasia, this ability is entirely absent or markedly impaired. Here, we aim to clarify the prevalence of aphantasia in the general population, while overcoming limitations of previous research (e.g., recruitment biases). In Experiment 1, we screened a cohort of undergraduate students (n502) using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (Marks, 1973) and found that 4.2% had aphantasia. To establish the reliability of our estimate, we then screened a new sample of people (n502) at an online crowdsourcing marketplace, again finding that approximately four percent (3.6%) had aphantasia. Overall, our combined prevalence from over a thousand people of 3.9% - which shows no gender bias - provides a useful index for how commonly aphantasia occurs, based on measures and diagnostic thresholds in line with contemporary aphantasia literature.
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Conscious CognISSN
1053-8100Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
97Page range
1-10Article number
a103243Event location
United StatesDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-12-14First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-12-04First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-12-13Usage metrics
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