Diverse Minds: Exploring Individual Differences in Visual Imagery and Special Cases

Mental imagery, or more specifically, visual imagery, plays a significant role in human life. For this reason, this paper aims to examine the many aspects of visual imagery with a special focus on inherent differences between individuals. This paper explores the idea of what visual imagery is and how it is represented, from the in-between of the spectrum of visual imagery, to the extreme ends, where lies the conditions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia. This paper covers the core cognitive processes involved in visual imagery and the parts of the brain responsible for them. The idea of measurement and assessment is also delved into, and the issues with current measurement techniques discussed, including self-report measures and performance-based tests. Highlighting gaps in the current research, this paper calls for more research aimed at understanding individual differences within all aspects of visual imagery. Finally, the application of visual imagery into settings such as education, clinical, and cognitive psychological research is discussed.