Vividness as the similarity between generated imagery and an internal model.
Brain and Cognition July 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.105988 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractVividness in visual mental imagery is less studied than imagery's format or neural basis. The authors propose re-framing vividness not as closeness to perception, but as closeness to an internal model: the more generated imagery matches this model, the more vivid it is. This perspective may reconcile conflicting findings on visual cortex activation during imagery. The paper examines this view alongside existing neuroscientific, psychological, and philosophical research and outlines future research directions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Aphantasia Hyperphantasia Mental imagery Qualia Vividness |
| Key finding | Proposes that vividness in visual mental imagery should be defined in terms of how closely generated imagery matches an internal model, rather than in terms of perception. |
Abstract
Vividness in visual mental imagery has been relatively under-explored compared to imagery's representational format and neural mechanisms. In this paper, we take a deeper look at vividness and suggest that in re-framing it, we can potentially reconcile disparate findings regarding visual cortex activation during imagery. Unlike traditional views of vividness that define the concept in terms of perception, we frame vividness in terms of imagery's relation to an internal model; the closer the generated imagery is to this model, the more vivid it is. This view is considered alongside existing neuroscientific, psychological, and philosophical research, as well as directions for future research.