The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population: Prevalence of 3.9%, the most extreme aphantasia subtype (absent imagery) has a prevalence of 0.8%

The prevalence of aphantasia (imagery weakness) in the general population. C. J. Dance, A. Ipser, J. Simner. Consciousness and Cognition, Volume 97, January 2022, 103243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2021.103243

Highlights

• Establishes the first replicated prevalence of aphantasia (visual imagery weakness).

• Aphantasia (absent or dim/vague imagery – measured using the VVIQ) has a prevalence of 3.9%.

• The most extreme aphantasia subtype (absent imagery) has a prevalence of 0.8%.

• Prevalence is based on the measure/diagnostic threshold in line with contemporary aphantasia literature.

• This prevalence rate can now serve as a fundamental underpinning of future aphantasia research.

Abstract: Visual 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.

Keywords: AphantasiaImageryPrevalenceImaginationVVIQ