The Impact of Aphantasia on Long-Term Memory

Research suggests that individuals with aphantasia, a condition characterized by the inability to generate mental imagery, may have difficulty recalling vivid autobiographical memories due to abnormal connectivity between the hippocampus and the visual cortex. The study found that people with aphantasia reported fewer details, less vivid narratives, and diminished confidence in their own memory when recalling past events. Functional MRI scans revealed reduced activation of the hippocampus in individuals with aphantasia, indicating a correlation between visual mental imagery and detailed autobiographical memory. The findings suggest that training in visual imagination may potentially aid in improving long-term recall for individuals with memory-related disorders.