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visual imagery

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 11, 2025·4 min read

Vivid Visual Memory May Raise PTSD Risk

A new study shows that having a vivid imagination—especially for visual details—may increase a person’s risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after trauma. In contrast, strong spatial memory skills, such as understanding where objects are located in space, may protect against PTSD symptoms, particularly in men.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·December 15, 2024·6 min read

Visual Silence: Exploring Aphantasia

A new study reveals that aphantasics, people unable to visualize, are more resistant to involuntary visual thoughts, such as imagining a pink elephant. While vivid visual imaginations often lead to intrusive imagery, aphantasics seem to redirect their thoughts to other mental processes, like abstract ideas or auditory daydreaming.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·June 11, 2024·5 min read

Trauma Shapes How We See: Negative Life Events Linked to Imagery Perception

Personal trauma impacts how people perceive distressing imagery, like decorated masks. The study showed that those with traumatic histories had stronger emotional reactions to trauma-related images compared to neutral ones.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Visual Neuroscience

·June 9, 2021·3 min read

Brain Connections Mean Some People Lack Visual Imagery

People with hyperphantasia, the ability to visualize vividly, have stronger connections between their visual brain network and decision-making networks. By contrast, those with aphantasia, an inability to visualize, have weaker connections between the brain regions.

This shows an EEG readout from the study

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 19, 2019·4 min read

Ayahuasca DMT compound changes brainwaves to vivid ‘waking-dream’ state

DMT alters electrical activity in the brain. The compound significantly decreases alpha wave activity, the dominant rhythm associated with wakefulness, and increases theta waves, associated with dreaming. Overall brain activity becomes more chaotic and less predictable. The findings advance the understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of immersive states of consciousness.

This shows two girls working with circuit boards

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 28, 2019·5 min read

Using visual imagery to find your true passions

Using visual imagery can help people to develop new interests. When girls visualize activities from a first-person perspective, positive memories associated with participating in that activity return. Researchers say, if applied to scientific activities, visualization could help females to develop a vested interest in STEM subjects.