Project Overview: Aphantasia and Map Cognition
Research Team
PI: P. William Limpisathian
Unlocking the Mind’s Map: Our study investigates how aphantasia alters spatial perception. By combining behavioral tasks with fMRI, we aim to reveal the neural basis of spatial deficits in aphantasics. Our findings have implications for personalized navigation strategies and understanding the role of mental imagery in spatial cognition.
Objective
This research project aims to investigate how aphantasia, the inability to create mental images, impacts an individual’s ability to navigate and comprehend spatial information, particularly when using maps. We will explore the neural correlates of aphantasia using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to shed light on the brain regions involved in spatial cognition.
Background
- Aphantasia refers to the inability to create mental images in the “mind’s eye.” Individuals with aphantasia lack the capacity to visualize objects, scenes, or memories.
- Geospatial cognition involves mental processes related to understanding and navigating space, including map reading, spatial awareness, and memory for spatial layouts.
Proposed Research Questions
- How does aphantasia affect map and spatial cognition?
- Specifically, how does the absence of mental imagery impact an individual’s ability to interpret and navigate spatial information?
- What are the underlying neural mechanisms?
- Which brain regions are involved in spatial cognition, and how are they altered in people with aphantasia?
Hypothesis
We anticipate that aphantasics may exhibit reduced hippocampal activation during spatial memory tasks, affecting their ability to recall and navigate through mental maps. Additionally, heightened activation of the visual-perceptual cortex may prohibit them from experiencing visual imagery in their mind’s eye, further impacting spatial cognition.
Possible Implications
- Neurological Basis: This study may help shed light on alterations in the hippocampus and visual-perceptual cortex that underpins the impaired autobiographical memory retrieval associated with aphantasia.
- Spatial Cognition: This student would provide empirical evidence of how Aphantasia might impact spatial cognition due to reduced mental imagery.
- Clinical Findings: Understanding these mechanisms may help us better understand how individuals with and without aphantasia navigate and interact with physical and mental spaces.
In summary, it is theorized that aphantasia significantly influences spatial cognition and its neuro-correlates. Further research can illuminate strategies to enhance spatial abilities in those with aphantasia.