What Is the Imagination Spectrum?

Imagination is not a switch. It's a spectrum. At one end, some people have no conscious mental imagery at all. At the other, people report vivid, detailed internal scenes. Most people sit somewhere in between—and that "somewhere" can differ for each sense.

Understanding the spectrum helps you make sense of why you and others experience the world differently, without treating any one point as broken or better.

From No Imagery to Hyper-Vivid

Research and self-report data point to a broad range:

• Low or absent imagery — You understand concepts and can reason about them, but you don't "see" or "hear" them in your mind. Around 1% of people meet strict criteria for aphantasia (no voluntary visual imagery); when reduced imagery is included, the figure is closer to 4%. Imagery in other senses can still be strong.
• Moderate imagery — You can form internal images or sounds, but clarity and control vary. Many people fall here: they can imagine, but it's not like watching a movie.
• High or hyper-vivid imagery — Internal experiences feel sharp, stable, and rich in detail. Some people describe mental imagery as almost as clear as perception; that end of the spectrum is often called hyperphantasia.

The same person can sit at different points on the spectrum for different senses. Strong visual imagery with weak auditory (or the reverse) is common.

Six Senses, Six Sliders

The imagination spectrum applies to each sensory channel:

• Visual imagination — internal pictures and scenes
• Auditory imagination — inner sound, music, and voice
• Olfactory and gustatory — smell and taste
• Tactile — touch and texture
• Motor imagination — the feel of movement and body position

Your profile is the combination of where you sit on each of these. There is no single "correct" profile—only different cognitive styles with different strengths.

Why the Spectrum Matters

Where you sit affects how you learn, remember, and plan. It can clarify why you prefer certain kinds of instructions, why some tasks feel natural and others don't, and why others seem to "see" or "hear" things in their head when you don't. It also helps correct the myth that low imagery means low creativity; creativity shows up in many forms, not only in vivid mental pictures.

Find Your Place on the Spectrum

If you want to see where you fall across all six senses, the Imagination Index assessment gives you a structured way to do it. You get a personalized Imagery Profile and optional deeper reporting. No cost to take the core assessment.