An international estimate of the prevalence of differing visual imagery abilities

Wright, David J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-0237, Scott, Matthew W, Kraeutner, Sarah, Barhoun, Pamela, Bertollo, Maurizio, Campbell, Mark J, Waltzing, Baptiste M, Dahm, Stephan F, Esselaar, Maaike ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8358-7213, Frank, Cornelia, Hardwick, Robert M, Fuelscher, Ian, Marshall, Ben ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2557-5399, Hodges, Nicola J, Hyde, Christian and Holmes, Paul S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0821-3580 (2024) An international estimate of the prevalence of differing visual imagery abilities. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. 1454107. ISSN 1664-1078

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to establish prevalence estimates for aphantasia, hypophantasia, typical imagery ability, and hyperphantasia in a large multi-national cohort. In Study 1, the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire was completed by 3049 participants. Results indicated prevalence estimates of 1.2% for aphantasia, 3% for hypophantasia, 89.9% for typical imagery ability, and 5.9% for hyperphantasia. In Study 2, to replicate these findings in a larger sample, the Study 1 data were combined with openly available data from previous prevalence studies to create a total sample of 9063 participants. Re-analysis of this data confirmed prevalence estimates of 0.9% for aphantasia, 3.3% for hypophantasia, 89.7% for typical imagery ability, and 6.1% for hyperphantasia. These robust and up-to-date estimates provide enhanced clarity to researchers regarding the prevalence of differing visual imagery abilities and provide a platform for future studies exploring the role of visual imagery in various cognitive and behavioural tasks.