Abstract:
The incidence of anauralia (absence of auditory sensory imagery-see Hinwar & Lambert,
2021) and of aphantasia (absence of visual sensory imagery) were evaluated in a large-scale
survey study (New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey: N = 32,876; see
https://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/new-zealand-attitudes-and-values-study.html).
In this large and representative sample of the New Zealand population the incidence of
anauralia was 0.78%, while that of aphantasia was 0.79%. Anauralia and aphantasia tended
to co-occur: approximately half of participants reporting an absence of imagery in one
modality, also reported an absence of imagery in the other. Similarly, hyperauralia (clear
auditory imagery) and hyperphantasia (vivid visual imagery) tended to co-occur: 77-79% of
participants who reported clear and vivid imagery in one modality also reported clear and
vivid imagery in the other. Nevertheless, dissociations were also observed: 5.6% of
anauralics reported experiencing highly vivid visual imagery, and 16.5% reported typical
visual imagery. Similarly, 7.3% of aphantasics reported experiencing very clear auditory
imagery, and 23.8% reported typical visual imagery. Hence, strong dissociations between
visual and auditory imagery were seen, albeit with low frequency. Controlling for age, an
absence of both auditory and visual imagery was associated with lower
Agreeableness/Empathy (Mini IPIP6), greater perfectionism, reduced self-esteem and life
satisfaction, and increased psychological distress (Kessler-6). However, these differences
were driven primarily by self-reported visual imagery: individuals reporting anauralia did
not differ reliably from those reporting typical auditory imagery, with respect to
agreeableness/empathy, perfectionism, self-esteem, life satisfaction or psychological
distress, when visual imagery scores were controlled (as a covariate). In contrast,
aphantasia was associated with higher perfectionism, lower self-esteem and higher
psychological distress, when auditory imagery scores were controlled statistically.
Theoretical implications of these findings are considered. REFERENCE Hinwar, R.P. &
Lambert, AJ. (2021). Anauralia: The silent mind and its association with aphantasia.
Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 744213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.744213