THE MENTAL

IMAGERY SPECTRUM
Clarifying the Mind's Eye

ALEC FIGUEROA
INTRODUCTION CONTENTS
VIVID MENTAL IMAGERY:
A STARTER GUIDE CORRECT 4
Surprisingly, research around EXPECTATIONS
the topic of the mind's eye is Knowing the
somewhat new. The
differences within
scientific community really
only began delving into mental imagery
these ideas when the term gives you
"aphantasia" (referring to a
something to aim
lack of mental imagery) was
coined in 2015. Since then, at.
multiple classifications of the
mind's eye experience have
been identified, and our
VISUALIZING THE 11
SPECTRUMS
understanding slowly
progresses. A visual aide to help
us compare these
I've had the honor and
different types of
privilege to have a voice in
the field for the past 3.5 imagery.
years, and I've worked with
hundreds of individuals,
deep diving into their
THE VMSQ 12
visualization experience (or
An exercise in
lack thereof), and working measuring our
with them on developing a mind's eye.
greater capacity for vivid
mental imagery.
CONCLUSION 19
What you'll find in this book This is still a new
are the main points I have field of research.
found foundational to
understanding the different
Want to
types of mental imagery. participate?
Then, once you know where
you're at and what to expect,
you can have something to
aim at. Have fun!
 BEFORE WE JUMP IN

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CORRECT
EXPECTATIONS
DIFFERENCES IN MENTAL IMAGERY
Since the visual imagination has largely been a
subjective topic until now, there has inherently been
much confusion on what it is and how it operates.
Thus the topic of aphantasia remains a challenge to
define, identify, and diagnose.
Over the past 3 years, I have worked extensively to
clarify these dynamics. In my attempts to help clarify
the topic, I even had the honor of naming one of the
classifications of visual imagery (a very important
distinction, as you'll see).
One of the reasons I am qualified to create these
new points of understanding is my personal journey
within the topic of the visual imagination: I have
grown my visual imagination from a regular level to
an advanced level over the years, something I now
help others to do.

FIRST, LET'S DISCUSS THE SPECTRUM OF

MENTAL IMAGERY.

On the following pages, you'll see a page

dedicated to each type of visual
imagination.
1. APHANTASIA
Definition: The absence of visual sensory
information within one’s thoughts.

Main Points of Understanding:

Affects approximately 2-3% of
the population
Can affect the mental
perception of any sense, but
typically refers to perception of
visual information in the
thoughts.
So, one may also not be able to
hear in their mind, feel things
Experience of only words
in their mind, etc... in mind when thinking of a cat.
Sensory information may be
absent / imperceivable in thought life.
Some aphantasics may not be able to see in their mind’s eye,
but may experience a measure of "prophantasia" (detailed later
in this section).
Just because one does not physically see something when they
imagine, does not necessarily mean that they are experiencing
aphantasia.
As we can see in the illustration (next page), the mind’s eye is
blank, or feels non-existent.
We could call this the"bottom" of the visual spectrum, covering
an approximate range from 0-15% of vividness in the thoughts.
Typically, the aphantasia experience is described as thoughts
only in word form.
2. HYPOPHANTASIA
Definition: Visual imagery in thoughts, but
very weak / lacking in detail.

Very low form of hypophantasia. The upper end of the

Hypophantasia experience.

Main Points of Understanding:

Hypophantasia, in and of itself, covers a range on the mind's eye
spectrum (from about 15-60% out of 100% vividness).
People experiencing the lowest form of hypophantasia will be
able bring visual elements to mind, but not a full, coherent image.
This could be considered as 15-30% vividness.
So they could think of colors, or vague shapes, but usually those
elements will not be combined (Take note, in the image above,
the person would be combining shape and color, but some can't
do both at the same time).
Then, from about 30%-60%, colors and shapes will begin to
coalesce in the mind, creating a mental image, but it will still be
lacking in a lot of detail.
For many hypophantasics, the imagery may be very fleeting, only
consciously observable for fractions of a second.
This type of imagery is still not a physical sight.
3. COMMON-PHANTASIA
Definition: Average mind's eye capacity.
Most of the population resides here.

A low form of phantasia. Upper form of phantasia; more

detail begins to be present.

Main Points of Understanding:

It is very clear to these individuals that they are thinking visually.
Some will say they "see" what they imagine, but it's important to
realize most don't physically see anything, rather they are
generating a feeling of sight in the thoughts.
So, to these individuals there are visual thoughts happening, but
there are still details lacking.
For instance, maybe they can think of their friend walking up to
them and waving, but maybe the motion of the scene is choppy.
Or maybe the background is lacking detail. Or maybe they can't
quite remember their friends nose, so it feels fuzzy or absent
there.
So, even with eyes closed, a phantasic person will not physically
see anything.
4. HYPERPHANTASIA
Definition: An extremely detailed / over-
active mind’s eye.

A representation of An exaggerated example of when the mental

hyperphantasia. scene takes up all one's attention.

Main Points of Understanding:

Around 85%-100% of the vividness spectrum.
Hyperphantasics will have just as much detail to the visual
thoughts as if they actually were seeing it.
Often times, the mental scene is paired with other mental senses,
such as an auditory or haptic sense.
For a hyperphantasic, it can sometimes be hard to tell the
difference between what is imagined and what is seen.
Though, even if nothing is physically seen, it may feel like it is a
physical sight.
The mind’s eye can take over the natural sight, becoming the
only point of focus. When this happens, it feels as if that is all one
is “seeing” (almost like your mind only perceives the mental
image, and not your physical body any longer. Represented in the
2nd image).
Some hyperphantasics find it distressing / distracting and may
have difficulty with voluntarily controlling their imagination.
 Important Note Before
Continuing

Most of the people within that entire

spectrum we just went over, from
aphantasia to hyperphantasia,

will still just see

black when they
close their eyes!
What they're getting is best described
as the feeling of seeing without
actually seeing anything.

Though, there is a different form of

mental imagery where things are
physically seen, and we'll dig into that
next.
PROPHANTASIA
Definition: The ability to "project" what one imagines
into what one physically sees (intentional
hallucination).
Note: The black space in front represents the blackness when eyes are closed.
Also notice how the mind's eye can be blank while projecting imagery.

Typically projection will start by having a This represents a pretty advanced projected
weak outline of the image. image.
Main Points of Understanding:
Origin: within working with individuals, I recognized the need to differentiate
between the mind’s eye and physically seeing images, so I created this term
to help us clarify. We don't have much data on this type of visualization, but it
seems to be incredibly rare.
Now we are not dealing with images within the mind’s eye (in thought form /
the feeling of sight) any longer; the images are now being physically seen in
one's visual field.
So whenever something is seen or the visual field is intentionally altered, we
could consider it "prophantasia"
Not to be confused with imagining extra objects in one's environment. If the
physical environment remains unaltered, then it isn't prophantasia.
This ability may exist independently of a functioning mind’s eye.
As illustrated above, when the eyes are closed, one can physically see an
image on the blackness.
Detail of these projected images can vary in vividness, depending on state of
mind and ability level.
This can begin to bleed into a hyperphantasic-type experience where the
projected image becomes all that one sees.
This type of projected imagery seems to be quite rare. Our initial surveys
reveal that 70% of hyperphantasics can do this at at least a low level. With a
very small amount of those having detailed projections. It's important to
keep in mind that hyperphantasia seems to already be quite rare.
Most people experiencing common-phantasia will not be experiencing
projected imagery during their waking state.
THE VMSQ
VIVIDNESS OF MENTAL SENSES
QUESTIONNAIRE

So, now you hopefully have a better idea of what the

experience of mental imagery is like in these different
ways, and the difference between mind's eye and
projected imagery. Now here's the question, where
do you rest on the spectrum!?

The following pages contain the Vividness of Mental

Senses Questionnaire (VMSQ). This is a questionnaire I
developed to help get some measurement as to how
you experience your mind's eye. Please note: this
questionnaire is not meant to measure projected
imagery.

So, take a few minutes, and see what score you get.
Then compare that score to the average score in each
visualization category. Keep in mind, these numbers
are still very rough, and aren't necessarily to be
considered a perfect diagnostic tool. It is meant to
give you more of an idea of where you're at, generally.

Continue on to participate in the questionnaire.

THE VMSQ
Instructions
(Please Note: to fill out form, download the form to your device or click
the printer icon in Google Drive)

This is a custom update to the illustrious Vividness of

Visual Imagery Questionnaire. After accumulating 2 years
worth of experience in working with individuals to either
grow or strengthen their ability to visually imagine, I have
taken the concepts presented in the original VVIQ and
expanded upon them, introducing several new
measurement points as well as a different flow to the
process. The VMSQ will not only measure the visual aspect of
the imagination, but also other aspects which commonly
comprise the visual imagination.
Each section will describe a different scenario to bring to
mind. Please read the scenario first, and then take a
moment to think through that scenario as accurately as
possible from start to finish.
After reflecting on the scenario, proceed to fill in a rating
on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being only thinking of the words in the
scenario, 10 being as if you were there in a present and first-
person moment) on each subject line.
You are rating how clearly you can think of each subject,
not necessarily how clearly you “see” the item in question (in
other words, we are not measuring physical hallucinations.
The black space when you close your eyes should remain
black, as this is normal). Upon finishing, add up your total
rating and fill in the number at the “total Rating” section.
Each scenario takes up a single page. There are 4
scenarios.
First! What type of imagery do you believe you're experiencing?
Type below:

____________________________________________________________
SCENARIO #1
1 = words only, 10 = lifelike detail

You are sitting on a bench in a park on a nice, breezy

day waiting for a friend or family member whom you
are quite fond of. Next this person approaches you,
waving and saying “hi”.
Now, after reflecting on this scenario and attempting
to mentally observe it from start to finish, answer the
following points of interest (use 1-10 number scale).
1
___ The movement of the scene.
(ie: how your familiar person approached you
as they walked up and waved, the leaves
blowing in the wind, etc...)

1
___ The colors of the scene.
(ie: what color your person's hair is, the color of
the grass, color of the sky, etc...)

1
___ The shapes / details of the scene.
(ie: what your friend looks like, what they were
wearing, textures, background details, etc...)

1
___ Your sense of perspective of the scene.
(ie: the sense you had of where your mental
"camera" was at during the scenario)
SCENARIO #2
1 = words only, 10 = lifelike detail

You are sitting on a beach at sunset. With your feet in

the sand you observe the setting sun and the waves.
Then you hear a gull cry out, landing about 20 feet in
front of you. The gull then looks towards you, and
promptly flies off again.
Now, after reflecting on this scenario and attempting
to mentally observe it from
start to finish, answer the following points of interest.
1
___ The movement of the scene.
(ie: The sense of seeing the waves roll in, the
gull flying, landing, taking off, etc...)

1
___ The colors of the scene.
(ie: the sense of the sunset color, the dull blue
of the water, white of the gull, etc...)

1
___ The shapes / details of the scene.
(ie: shape of the waves, feet in the sand, texture
of the sand, gulls face and wings, etc...)

1
___ Your sense of perspective of the scene.
(ie: the sense you had of where your mental
"camera" was at during the scenario)
SCENARIO #3
1 = words only, 10 = lifelike detail

You walk up to the door of your home / apartment

after being out all day. You begin to remove your keys
and sort through the various keys until you find the
correct key. You insert the key, and turn it unlocking the
door, then open and enter the door. As you step inside,
you turn around, and shut the door behind you.
Now, after reflecting on this scenario and attempting
to mentally observe it from
start to finish, answer the following points of interest.
1
___ The movement of the scene.
(ie: the sense of approaching the door, sifting
through the keys, swinging the door open,
etc...)

1
___ The colors of the scene.
(ie: the color of the door, color of your keys,
colors in your entry way, etc...)

1
___ The shapes / details of the scene.
(ie: shape of the door, shape of the correct key,
shape of your doorknob, etc...)

1
___ Your sense of perspective of the scene.
(ie: the sense you had of where your mental
"camera" was at during the scenario)
SCENARIO #4
1 = words only, 10 = lifelike detail

After feeling a pang of hunger, you find yourself

walking towards your refrigerator. You reach out and
open the door to the fridge. As you gaze inside for a
moment, your eyes land on something which seems
appetizing. You reach out and grab it, and then close
the door of the fridge.
Now, after reflecting on this scenario and attempting
to mentally observe it from
start to finish, answer the following points of interest.
1
___ The movement of the scene.
(ie: the sense of approaching the fridge,
reaching your hand out, the door swinging,
etc...)

1
___ The colors of the scene.
(ie: the color of the fridge, the light coming on
as the door opens, etc...)

1
___ The shapes / details of the scene.
(ie: shape of the fridge, shape of the handle,
shapes and locations of items inside, etc...)

1
___ Your sense of perspective of the scene.
(ie: the sense you had of where your mental
"camera" was at during the scenario)
VMSQ RESULTS!
A General Idea of Where You're At

Keep in mind! These results are still VERY subjective. This

is not a perfect diagnostic tool by any means. It's only
meant to give you a general idea of where you may rest
on the mind's eye spectrum. First, let's look at how each
category stacks up. You will have a minimum of 16
points.
Aphantasia Max = 32 points
Hypophantasia Max = 80 points
Common-Phantasia Max = 128 points
Hyperphantasia Max = 160 points

YOUR SCORE:
16
_____ points
Generally, you fit into the category of:
__________________________

Please consider submitting your results!

CLICK HERE
CONCLUSION

Consider checking out my mental imagery

development programs! I work with all
types of visualizers.

CLICK HERE

ALEC FIGUEROA