Aphantasia
Neural correlates of aphantasia: assessments using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
General
To investigate the causes and consequences of aphantasia, aphantasists as well as unaffected control subjects are recruited.
Background and aims
Aphantasia is the complete or almost complete absence of voluntary imagination. The aim of the study is to investigate genetic and neurobiological causes of aphantasia and its effect on autobiographical memory. In addition, the data will be used to validate an objective test for the diagnosis of aphantasia in order to use it in future research in a cost-saving way.
Course of the study
If you consent to participate in the study, there will be:
- an approximately 90-minute examination of visual imagination and autobiographical memory in an MRI scanner (3T MRI)
- an approximately 60-minute examination of the visual imagination using various behavioral tasks (e.g., Binocular Rivalry Task)
- a sampling of buccal epithelial cells to investigate the genetic basis of aphantasia
- an autobiographical interview of about 90 minutes.
All examinations are performed in one day and take about 2-4 hours in total.
Contact:
Dr. Dr. Cornelia McCormick
German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE)
In Cooperation with:
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Institut für Psychologie
Differentielle & Biologische Psychologie
Kaiser-Karl-Ring 9
53111 Bonn
Principle Investigator:
Prof. Dr. Dipl. Psych. Martin Reuter
martin.reuter(at)uni-bonn-diff.de
Project management/Study coordination:
M.Sc. Merlin Monzel
228 73-4619
merlin.monzel(at)uni-bonn-diff.de
Publications
Monzel M, Leelaarporn P, Lutz T, Schultz J, Brunheim S, Reuter M, McCormick C. Hippocampal-occipital connectivity reflects autobiographical memory deficits in aphantasia. eLife 13:RP94916, 2024. doi: 10.7554/eLife.94916.1.
